Mailstop

stepping out of the post office, I turned towards sounds of loud
crashing glass and shredding metal. Through the bright summer morning I
can see what just happened, two cars (actually, a guy in a pickup truck and 
a lady in a car) tried to challenge amber lights, and upon seeing another
vehicle competing for the same amber, both sped-up to beat the other at the
last second. Well, it didn't work out real good, see'ins how they both
were thinkin' alike. At mach-speed, they veered away from each other at the 
last second, the pickup slipped by (and kept on goin) but the car with the
 lady crashed into the barbershop on the corner (that's what I heard) throngs
of onlookers converged on the scene. The lady sprawled halfway out of her
car, with her lower half wedged under the steering wheel, staring lifeless at
the sky. Joking to the crowd, one of the Postmen standing around shouted
"she musta wanted a haircut" I heard laughter echoing around me. Anger
filled me, I wanted to shout "what about her family? they don't know how
much their lives just changed! how can you laugh?"  ....... the Postman went 
back inside to sell stamps ...... I went home ......... she went to the morgue for
identification.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

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

A   Avatar
November 22, 2012 at 5:15 PM
James, congratulation with your featured poem of the week. God Bless, you and your family during the holidays,, always~ PD
Austin Avatar
November 21, 2012 at 12:36 PM
Portrait of a sociopath, eh, James? People like he postman love to kill dogs. Good stuff. Congrats on the selection. Love, daver
Suzadail Jr. Avatar
September 1, 2009 at 9:24 AM
I stopped to help at an accident and found 3 dead bodies, one still twitching but already dead. I still get the creeps when I drive by the spot. We all react in different ways to a crisis. Vince
Pate Avatar
May 18, 2009 at 8:32 PM
Very powerful. People can be so cruel at times. It's like we bombard our senses all our lives with fake violence that the real stuff doesn't have meaning anymore.
Beck Avatar
April 5, 2009 at 12:59 PM
There is nothing funny about this. I am glad you are wise enough to be considerate of others. Helen
Esquire Avatar
March 17, 2009 at 7:31 AM
Dear Jim, YOU pulled me into this POEM in the first 2 lines (Please read my POEM "Oh My GOD") YOU grip me my the Heart in the last 5 lines Excellently Portrayed I see what YOU saw I feel what YOU felt and I THINK YOURS ALWAYS...HG
Parish Avatar
March 13, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Oh wow, I could visualize the scene as I was reading this. Sad thing how this happens often. I think I would have turned around and smacked that postman if I heard what he had said...that was just down write rude. I liked the write though, good reading & imagery.
Ginn Avatar
March 12, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Whoa dark and introspective, the fleeting value of life. We are such a curious people.
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