Adult Poems

Adult Poems

Etched in my Brain

 

Face down on the bed, my son,

arms outstretched and legs grown cold.

One tainted pill, did you in

at twenty-four years old.

 

I quickly turned you over

and looked deep into your eyes.

“He’s gone!” I screamed. “He’s gone! He’s gone!”

with anguished, high-pitched cries.

 

I peered into your open mouth

with vomit on its side

and horror overtook me then

as part of me had died.

 

I ran around the kitchen

like wounded, helpless prey.

I cursed out loud and whimpered some

when they took you away.

 

I carry this, etched in my brain

and guilt, since last I checked,

a father’s job is to love

but mostly to protect.

 

© 2021 by Ken Slesarik

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