A Changed Man Am I
I parked along Lucky Street
Down in the Atlanta area Sunday
And decided to take a seat
In a small park along the way
It was so peaceful and quite
No one was mingling anywhere around
Except the squirrels and birds
That were scratching and playing on the ground
Well it wasn’t too long before
I wasn’t alone on this side of town
An older gentleman who smelled of alcohol
And Sunday morning going down
He took a seat next to me
And I figured he wanted to bum a ride
I noticed he did have a paper sack
With I supposed his bottle hidden inside
Well he sat there and muttered not a word
He just stared out into space
And then he turned directly at me
And we were now face to face
He said, I reckon you think I’m crazy
For living this kind of life
But it’s all I know now
Since I lost my son and my wife
You see I wasted all those years
I spent working tooth and nail
And throwed it all away
When the booze created this hell
I didn’t know what to say to him
I just sat there like a knot on a log
My mind was all clouded up
And my thoughts was in a fog
He says to me with his southern drawl
I reckon you think I’m a fool
For leaving everything behind
And breaking all the golden rules
But when that car went of control
And killed my wife and son
I had nowhere else to turn to
And that’s why I’ve been on the run
Life ain’t what it was before
And yes I’m paying the piper still
I just wish a million times over
I hadn’t been behind that wheel
But I can’t change anything about it
And I sure can’t change how I feel
But thanks for listening to me
It helps a little to get it off my chest
And now I’ll leave you to your morning
As I’ll drink since that’s what I do best
I sat there after he had been gone awhile
And thought of what he had said
About his wife and son and all
And how he was having to sleep in that bed
I thought about my own life
And swore that when I got home
I’d spend some time with my family
And not be too busy using my phone
I reckon the Lord sent him my way
And I thank Him from the bottom of my heart
Cause now I’m putting work in a different perspective
And asking my wife and son for a new start
I’m sure they’ll look surprised and all
But now my eyes have been opened wide
And work’s gonna have to take the back burner
Cause I’m now a changed man inside
Copyright © Will Karry | Year Posted 2014
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment