A Day Like Every Other

It was a day like every other, 
    In his monotonous life.
He showered and he shaved; 
    Shared a good-bye kiss with his wife.
Dropped his son off at school,
    On his commute into work;
Oblivious to the car radio news report
    About a gunman gone berserk.

She called him at his office
    For their usual mid-morning chat;
His recorded tones on voice mail said,
    “I’ll return your call when I get back.”
He missed his boss’ staff meeting;
    They figured he must have called in sick.
His emails went unanswered;
    His in-box was growing kind of thick.

His son couldn’t find him
    In the stands at his basketball game;
His wife was left wondering all day,
    Why the return call never came.
His secretary couldn’t track him down;
    His cell phone went straight to voice mail.
To the clients trying to find him, 
    She didn’t know just what to tell.

The police said there was nothing they could do
    Until twenty-four hours had come and passed;
When later in the evening
    His wife called them at last.
The wife and son sat by the phone;
    Not knowing just what to do.
They both finally went to sleep
    When the mantle clock showed half past two.

His car was never found,
    His whereabouts never confirmed.
Whatever happened to this average man,
    No one ever was to learn.
His wife never forgave him;
    His son never forgot;
It was a day like every other,
    But for him, that day was not.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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

Grisetti Avatar
July 23, 2012 at 11:04 AM
congratulations on being selected for the finals.
Guzzi Avatar
July 18, 2012 at 4:10 PM
As always a wonder human grip on the trials of just being human. Congrad's on getting through the first round! Couldn't be in better company. Light & Love
Brown Avatar
July 18, 2012 at 7:15 AM
Congratulations on your poem making it through round one of the PoetrySoup International Poetry Contest. I wish you the best in the finals Joe. Love, Carol
Wilson Avatar
January 10, 2011 at 4:27 PM
Now i want to know what happened to this average guy..very mysterious! love,Deb
Devonshire Avatar
January 10, 2011 at 9:34 AM
A very compelling account, Joe. So often people seem to just disappear and we never learn what happened to them. Surely, some intentionally leave their former lives, but there are other cases in which crime is involved. Excellent work as always, Joe! Hope you'll consider entering the History Poems contest; it's filling up pretty fast and we now have 22 entries. Love, Carolyn
Loving Iii Avatar
January 10, 2011 at 9:25 AM
these days they claim alien abduction. very well told. john
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace