Jeffrey, Interrupted
You picked a path when met with fork
And trod it bare so oft you walked
Into a tunnel so wretched and corrupted
You slipped away, Jeffrey interrupted
Wednesday’s child is full of woe
But my May child has far to go
A decade times two your sacrifice
Fool’s gold for that roll of dice
Your values anorexic, almost starved to death
In the winter of your soul I cannot see your breath
Countless earnest declarations to all that you are well
But still you keep on walking through the raging gates of hell
Mephistopheles offered you a bargain so appealing
It mattered not to you to know that he’d be double-dealing
His sly smile belied the fingers crossed behind his crooked tail
You’re at a losing table, out of chips, and you’re no whale
Your dreams were long forgotten, and sadly never stoked
If I hadn’t watched this happen I would have thought it a sick joke
Something else seduced you and it surely did beguile
Enough to make you believe that your life was not worthwhile
You saw yourself in visions, amber glass contained your poison
False idols tempt with silent gestures - like a sailor lured by sirens
You go through good intentions like a sieve, like sand through glass
Earnest promises, years gone by, crises survived, but more forecast
For years I have done so many things to save you from yourself, my Jeff
I’ve run out of ideas to keep you whole, I’ve really nothing left
Like any loving mother I do not wish to see you in a tomb
And if I could, I would place you back into the safety of my womb
Copyright © Tess Norton | Year Posted 2014
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