Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Writer's Island #9 - Unforgettable

This week over at Writer's Island we are remembering those things we can never forget. The prompt is "Unforgettable".

I'm taking a somber turn with this one. I wrote this poem in February of 1996, after I lost a friend to a drunk driver. He was the sort of person you just never forget, but less forgetable is the pain I felt upon losing him. He's been on my mind for some reason lately, so it felt fitting for this prompt.

Not Leo


The world turned
everything changed in a single instant
it only took 5 seconds,
5 words
"He was killed last night"
that bitter taste lingers
I never had my chance to say goodbye
I lose control
unable to see through tears
unable to feel...numbed
unable to hear past those words
over and over again in my mind
"he was killed last night"
At first, "How" and then "when"
followed quickly by "where, why and...
Not Leo"
words tattoed forever in my mind
etched in pain in my memory
"yes, Leo, he was killed last night"
Now, when it rains I cry
when the sun shines, I wonder why
friendship borne, only to die
nobody ever really knows why
and I still cry
forever asking why
why Leo?
Why did he have to die?
And the words,
those fucking words
over and over
again and again
"Leo...he was killed last night
he was killed last night
he was killed..."

Copyright 2007 - Karina

Be sure to visit Writer's Island for other castaways, who will hopefully have much lighter fare for you.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very sad reading this. Very emotional.

Keith's Ramblings said...

So sad. It must have been very difficult to write.

Sr. Heather said...

Wow - a powerful piece. I second Keith. This was either very difficult to write, or it just flowed from you without you knowing what was happening.

Peace,
Hedwyg

Head Cookie said...

So sorry for the loss of your friend and all that you had to endure.

Tumblewords: said...

How sad! Very powerful piece.

Anonymous said...

Loss of a close friend is indeed very painful...

Simply Curious said...

I don't know you, you don't know me and I rarely comment on blogs, but this really made me feel the point you were trying to get across. So very, very powerful. I'm so sorry for your loss. :(