He gazed upward to the stars
counting sadness and his woes—
Deep wrinkles creased his brow,
he stands alone and ponders life.

It took one selfish moment
for his wealth to slip away—
Gambling is a fool’s game,
he wonders how he can regain.

Not one dollar he had left.
No income, no means to pay—
His house and car are gone,
He contemplates to end his life.

His wife, his son — he failed.
Nothing left to support them—
Life is not worth living!
He stepped out into the traffic…

Horns blast
Tyres skid
Thud

He stares upward into lights
muffled voices all around—
Deep wrinkles crossed his brow,
he marvels why he’s still alive.

It took one thoughtful moment…
Why would strangers save his life?
Two strong hands pulled him back,
he tried to rub a sore behind.

“Sir, not one bone did you break.
You hit the grass — not the truck—
There’s two people you should thank
and give them the trust they deserve.”

Wife and son approached his bed.
“Why did you return?” he asked—
“My debts won’t go away!”
He couldn’t bear to hurt them more.

Tears flowed
Misery
Dread

He gazed upward into hope
given now a second chance—
Deep wrinkles shaped his brow,
he reaches out and asks for help.

It took a year of meetings
learning how to take control—
Took years to pay his debts;
he found a job and stuck with it.

Desperate decisions made
difficult times they endured—
Early starts, long night shifts,
he finally forgave himself.

His wife and son stood by him,
nothing fancy they could own—
Probably never will.
But what they have is worth far more.

True love
Forgiveness
Trust

© Chrissy Siggee 2019

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental

Archived in: 🦋 Poetry Mix