The Domino Effect

The Domino Effect

Written by: T. L. O’Neal

 

Does anyone ever think about

all the choices that they make?

How it affects other people’s lives,

what they will be when they wake?

 

Does anyone ever thinks what happens,

when they abort a child?

All the generations that are lost,

the souls that are exiled.

 

Or when one is murdered in cold blood,

gone from their families; lost are their words.

Will their soul be damned to hell,

and their thoughts never again to be heard?

 

What happens when you breakup your family,

and the different paths that you take?

Is it a good decision or bad,

will their sprits grow or will they break?

 

When a bird’s egg is broken,

in time what will be lost?

Will the sky go barren,

Is it all worth the cost?

 

If you break one’s spirit,

and take away their dreams.

Does it make you feel better,

and lift your self-esteem?

 

Break someone’s will,

and puncture their soul.

Do you take the responsibility,

for your part in the role?

 

At what cost are your decisions,

when put into play by hate?

Does it make the world a better place,

and your life easier to relate?

 

Everyone has a choice,

in which direction they go.

The path you choose is yours,

to make friends or foes.

 

Sometimes in the choices you make

you can’t change things back.

Life moves on without you,

see now what your life lacks.

 

What good is it to gain the world,

if you lose your very soul.

Is it a good trade off,

what is your spiritual toll?

 

Choose wisely your path,

from now till the end.

Because it affects everyone,

living in love or sin.

 

If something good happens to you,

do you pass it on to another?

Make the world a better place,

and that person a brother.

 

Everything that you do,

or everyone you neglect,

has reactions… good or bad,

it’s called the domino effect.

 

Reviews

[Siobhan MacIntyre]

Very thought-provoking questions and ideas.

I am quite amazed that you have not been the cyber-equivalent of dive-bombed by angry vultures over the abortion stanza. Any time anyone calls me on my beliefs in that regard (I am anti-) I just quite simply say, "Have you ever had an abortion? If not, shut the hell up because you have no idea based in reality of what is the actual cost."


Everything we do does affect others. Choosing one avenue ends the possibilities that a different choice would have afforded. Careless words maim relationships. Selfish decisions maim hearts. Everything interacts.

Very profound, my friend. ;-)

[Nya]

Your words open up the mind to so many possibilities as I read this poem and the fact that you took some chances with some of the stanzas was quite effective as well. Very good.

[C. Harter Amos]

Very powerfully made points. The action/reaction of the Domino Effect is alive and well...I agree with you on all points, and think you did an outstanding job of illustrating the fact that anything and everything we do has a direct effect on the world around us; some rather minor decisions are far more important than we ever imagine. I particularly liked the stanza about the broken egg possibly causing a barren sky. Thank you for putting in the stanza about lost generations as well - not an easy topic to face. I look in absolute wonder at the population explosion that happened because two people got married and had children, every time I sit down at the table for a meal with my slew of grandchildren! The poem itself is exceptionally well written. I'm so used to your comic pieces that it threw me a bit to find a serious piece, but it's full of beautiful depth and great lines. Great write. - Mimi.

[CarrieLynn {Chameleon A..]

very thought-provoking peice...good job! :)

[Josh Clifton]

Very insightful and deep poem. Its true we often dont think about how single decisions in our lives can affect the very nature of the world we live in today and the future. I really enjoyed this piece. I think we could all take more time to rethink consequences before acting on quick decisions. Great write.

[A. Dade]

Thats a great poem. It's going in the favorites library for me..

It's so amazing how people make decisions without even bothering to think about the reaction...the affect the way it will affect other people just like them. People do things believing that another soul is deserving of their malice... when in reality, they may be just like them..

I found this poem very moving and very interesting. Thanks for this. =)

[Closed profile]

This is very good

You think very deep like myself

I like the questions and the way this flows.

If we would think more about the decisions we take, before we take them, then perhaps many of the problems would be solved.

A great poem

[Fran Marie]

Everything that you do,

or everyone you neglect,

has reactions� good or bad,

it's called the domino effect.



What a power-packed write, most profound indeed~ with a strong message within
a most apt title for this write also,~The Domino Effect~ everyone's life really does touch
another's by our actions and the choices we make~So many great stanzas in this poem
and the ending ties it all up rather nicely~Superb pen here my friend~Fran

[Jack Yatsko]

All I can say is wow...I am a philosopher and questions like these always come to me too...The rhythm is fantastic. It flowed beautifully. Well done sir.

[Cheryl J. Turner]

Your writing places me deep in thought, deeper than I generally go.
I enjoyed this thought prevoking piece. Now I'm off to ponder my life and how I effect others!

[Maliya Erison]

This piece was extremely well thought out, and insightful. It was full of passion and questions that we all often times forget to ask ourselves. What is the price we pay for the choices and decisions we make on a daily basis? How often do we cause catastrophes in the lives of others for our own selfish needs.

Sometimes we're aware of our toll, our spiritual tally, the tax we pay to the universe with every lie we tell, every time we hurt or deceive someone. The concept of Karma is what comes to my mind after reading this. It makes me wonder about what bets have I laid that will come back to haunt me. What is my own personal domino effect?

Thank you so much for this thoughtful, imaginative piece of work. Many, many blessings!