That evening Larry sat alone,
And drank the world away.
But he could not forget the things
That haunted him that day.
He found a picture of his wife,
Kissing another man.
He learned that it had been a year
Since her affair began.
So he packed everything he could,
And stormed right out the door.
He got a room down at the Sands.
On the eleventh floor.
He took his bags up to his room,
Then headed for the bar.
While Dino played the Copa Room,
He listened from afar.
And for the next six weeks or more,
This was Larry’s routine.
He would drown in his misery,
While listening to Dean.
It would become the stepping stone,
To the rest of his life.
Though life was not much better for
His children and his wife.
Her lover took her as his bride,
And life went south from there.
He gambled and abused her kids,
And had a new affair.
One night her husband disappeared,
And suspecting foul play,
The cops collected evidence,
Then took Larry away.
It wasn’t long before they found
A body in the sand.
Examiners were sure the man
Was killed by Larry’s hand.
A jury found Larry guilty
And sentenced him to life.
For killing his ex-wife’s husband,
With a large kitchen knife.
His wife would marry three more times,
Before the kids were grown.
While they, in turn, followed this road,
To heartbreaks of their own.
So pay attention to this tale,
If you should choose to wed.
Life’s tapestry is but as strong,
As the weave’s weakest thread.
A family has a center,
A husband and a wife.
And everything surrounding them,
Depends on them for life.
But if the center comes undone,
The family will fold.
For life to stand against the strain,
The center HAS to hold.
A contest entry
- Fork in the Road by Mojave Moon.
595 points, ended February 28, 12 entries
Honorable winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
-
... may I suggest ridding of the word "and" in the beginning of the 4th and 5th stanza? I could see where it fits but I think it also may be hindering the flow...
but still... doesn't take away from the feeling and powerful message of this poem... I enjoy a poem that has a message I find quotable...
thanks again!
-
WOW!!!!
I am blown away by this. What a very deep story with an even deeper meaning.
What a shame, if this is true, and even if it's not there are far too many things
going on just like this in this world.
I love all the strong points you had in this.... the snowball effect of abuse...
and how if the "center" of the family crumbles, so does the WHOLE family...
I loved this stanza :
So pay attention to this tale,
If you should choose to wed.
Life’s tapestry is but as strong,
As the weave’s weakest thread.and the stanzas following where just as powerful. You had a strong beginning and end to this.
Thank you for sharing your poem, hopefully a few will think a little harder after
reading this.
Good luck!!!
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