Grave Consequences

A wash of dark ink spilled across sky then dripped from the corners of his eye.

A wash of dark ink spilled across sky,

spreading within ocean’s steady roll,

then dripped from the corners of his eye

from out the dark cavern of his soul.

He lifted the bottle in his hand

to black out the demons in his mind

and scatter like seashells on the sand

the worst of memories left behind.

He lost his son in a fateful wreck.

Flesh of his flesh was gone in a breath

when threads of destiny wrapped his neck

squeezing out life, leaving only death.

The maddening hours of despair

wrought him in bars bleeding black and blue,

unraveled his life, his wife, her care,

all the good things that ever he knew.

The ache of sorrow turned flesh to stone.

Shadows of regret haunted his eyes.

He guzzled his guilt, his pain - alone,

swallowed the tears that he never cries.

He gained momentum around the bend

and tempted his fate with borrowed time.

He justly wanted it all to end

too weary to lift his arms and climb.

The windshield shattered like crystal rain,

piercing the night like a crown of thorns

when he crossed into the other lane:

colliding of metal, fog, and horns.

She rushed in answer to his replies,

her suitcase stuffed to overflowing.

She will never hear his newborn cries

for the dead are ever unknowing.

She swallowed her blood and tasted sleep.

The voices echoed further away.

She drifted into her Father’s keep,

forever and ever there to lay.

They lifted the child from out the womb.

Their eyes were raining in requiem.

As they held him close and left the room,

their broken hearts wept and wept for him.

Author's Note

"Poetry is an orphan of silence. The words never quite equal the experience behind them." ~ Charles Simic

Reviews

[Dionysian Gnostic]

Sorrow begets sorrow. The juxtaposition of a dead son with a dead parent at the end is a grim twist of fate. Also, I couldn't help but notice you enjoy Charles Simic whose work I hold in high regard. I have his book "my noiseless entourage" in my book case and his clever use of imagery fascinates me to no end.

[mattavelli]

You've made me sad, Linda. This is a beautifully constructed poem presenting a winding tragic story, with very strong emotions and vivid imagery.

"The windshield shattered like crystal rain,
piercing the night like a crown of thorns
when he crossed into the other lane:
colliding of metal, fog, and horns.
She rushed in answer to his replies,
her suitcase stuffed to overflowing.
She will never hear his newborn cries
for the dead are ever unknowing."
- this section was my favorite, but it confused me. As I read it, my thoughts were ... oh no, he's gone kamikaze ... Good, "she" is coming to his rescue...is this a paradox, the death of his unborn son?... I figured it out in the next section. Yes, I'm easily confused. 🚀
Have fun, matt

[Samuel Dickens]

This writing is skillfully constructed and powerful in it's message. A glass or two of wine is good, but a jugful causes disaster. I hope this was fiction.

[Lydia Shutter]

Monumentally moving write, Linda. Powerful and intense emotions expressed beautifully and although the subject matter is dark, your words are not morbid. "The ache of sorrow turned flesh to stone"....that line is a winner all by itself! Wonderful work. Lydi**

[alifeacoustic]

A heartfelt and poignant write on the domino effect of loss. When one mourns so deeply for another, that they cant see their own coming. Beautifully captured.

[David Lewis Paget]

Love the intensity of this, sad tale though it is. To lose both his son and his wife were enough to push him around the bend, uncaring for his own life. A little confusing in places, but well worth the read.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

It’s actually about the collision of two lives: one, the man who lost his son in a fatal car accident. Out of despair, he turns to alcohol; and in turn, eventually loses his wife, who leaves him when she can’t take it anymore. Still consumed with despair and drinking, he is driving his car when he collides with another vehicle. The other vehicle contains a pregnant woman who is rushing to get to the hospital to deliver her baby. She dies, while they are able to save the baby. One man loses his son; and in turn, ends up killing this innocent woman and orphaning her son.

[David Lewis Paget]

No wonder I was confused, Linda Marie. I couldn't untangle the strands of this tale. Sorry.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I think the lines to really pay attention to are:

"She rushed in answer to his replies,
her suitcase stuffed to overflowing.
She will never hear his newborn cries
for the dead are ever unknowing."

She's rushing to get to the hospital - in response to his replies to her cries of pain due to the contractions.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

these words come as close as possible in equaling the experience written about here...



i felt his pain through your words.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

Thank you, Jacob. The consequences of his own sorrow bred more and more sorrow. His world collides with another. One innocent dies and another is born; yet, he lives on. It's a neverending cycle sometimes it seems. Ever sad.