Once upon time
a young man ran west
alone to atone for some
sins he had left
showed no one the poems
he wrote while they slept
he stirred in his room
one light at his desk
conflicted
consumed
by fires he set
considered the poison
he chose to ingest
committed to counter
the shame and regret
that came from the place he
hoped to forget
the river is raging
it’s up to the neck
chin deep and it’s gaining
up over the head
he may be worth saving
no life vest is left
blue eyes dip in water
a vision in quest
growling for grounding
gasping for breath
then sinking surrender
submerged in regret
he cried out
I’m weary
I can’t get no rest
but no one could help him
they wished him the best
they watched while he struggled
they all shook their heads and
stared at the man as
he treaded to dead
he wanted to jump
he needed an end
they pondered his life and
the strange things he said
but just for a moment
then they went to bed
sonny d. 