Cap and Gown

I was watching you

late one afternoon,

talking to your Dad about 

how much you missed growing up

and those awful, blue lawn chairs he owned.

I watched you two bond over

one too many beers and you

fell over laughing at his bad jokes.  

Back then I could've strangled you both!

Yeah, that was back before 

he was gone, you know,

before we had actually found out 

what sons of b*****s you two were

keeping it all so solemnly secret

from the rest of us, 

before you could get back here 

to us, back to your home 

but that wasn't your fault!

Back then nothing ever was.

Timing and Circumstance

should have been playing 

instead of Pomp.

Tragedy's intent was calamitous

and our Innocence did 

nothing to stop the accident's song 

from being sung. As the valedictorian's 

graduation psalm 

recieved standing ovations

and copious applause, 

as you threw tassled stygian cap 

skyward, discarded that satin cloth

gown, your father was scared, 

drastically gasping for oxygen, body 

parts scattered across the hot pavement 

outside that Mini Mart's parking lot,

his head next to him his arm next to

a bus, but that wasn't your fault! 

Back then nothing ever was.

What was left of 

His motorcycle had 

Flipped over her car. 

His helmet had 

Disintegrated into 

tiny bits of foam 

and bloody plastic

upon impact. 

The driver had been

Adamant and crying 

She didn't see him!

How come she couldn't see him? 

I asked. They answered.

But still couldn't believe,

How could she?  

How could she? 

He died later on 

in a San Diego hospital instead 

of in your arms, son

but that's not your fault! 

Back then nothing ever was.

Reviews

[ReasoningwithWords]

"Back then nothing ever was." Again this is great!