The Song.

The long rope hung in the air
The song was playing in his head
The barrel spins, click
He heard the voice
You are in charge of your weapon, always
The day the weapon takes charge of you, is the day we find you
The song plays in his head
The barrel spins, click
He wouldn’t die
The rope shook, but he wouldn’t die
He unloaded the magazine into his head
He did the decent thing
The song played in his head
The barrel spins, click
Images started to appear
He wouldn’t sleep
The house was the fortress now
The song played in his head
The barrel spins, click
The long rope hung in the air
He watched him walk away, smiling, inviting him
Destiny
The song played in his head
The barrel spins
The song plays into the distance.

Reviews

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

"The Song"- or funeral dirge played so well here. A soldier suffering from PTSD, playing Russian Roulette with his gun? An insomniac? A jilted lover? A person suffering from depression? Great wordage, repetition of lines, imagery on many levels- the rope, the barrel, the song...powerful and sad.

[Paul Bell]

Just a soldier suffering flashbacks.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Great portrayal of this type of PTSD Paul. I have had many patients in the VA Hospital with this disorder and they suffer terribly. Many end in suicide. There should be more and better treatment for them. They kept us safe and now we don't keep them safe. Tragic.

[Paul Bell]

Used and abused, Annette. Shocking.

[AYVID N]

You have written this piece so enticingly. Its almost tempting one to try!

[Paul Bell]

Now, now. You're to young to die. Step back from the gun.

[barleygirl]

Very haunting with this refrain "the barrel spins click" perfectly punctuating thru-out. As always your style is most arresting, this time becuz of the brevity of explanation . . . just a few observations about a hopeless scene. Very original imagery (((HUGS)))

[Paul Bell]

No way back in this one.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this reminds me much of Tom Dooley---
"poor boy you're bound to die"

the inevitable, that song..then he does himself in...like getting into a relationship we know is going to be the death of our heart..but pulling the trigger anyway.

j.

[Paul Bell]

It sure is, Jacob.