Consequences

 Buckling under the weight of 
opinion and condemnation
Peter fills himself with Oxycodone, 
scotch and beer chasers, then 
chases his demons at high speed 
down the straight knowing his 
confused reflexes will be too dull to 
take the curve, causing his parents 
to grieve for the rest of their 
shortened lives.

Unwilling to accept the painful 
loneliness any more Sheila jams 
the hose through the gap in 
her old Mazda’s window 
and finds slow solace 
in the monoxide mist as it 
erases her memories of 
betrayal, leaving her 
friends confounded and 
feeling guilty.

After his birthday party 
on Sunday night, 
Larry’s Saturday-night 
special becomes a 
Monday-night special 
when he places the muzzle 
in his mouth, momentarily 
pauses, then triggers the
door open to hell for himself 
and his family

In our rising up and lying down,
our going in and going out, these 
acts fracture our perspectives,
unsettle our peace and
rightfully ask How did you miss 
their loss of hope? Too late 
for apology. Far too late 
to care.

MDC

November 2020