Opportunity Knocked

He could have studied harder in school
   He knew he should have, but he didn't

He thought to ask his sweetheart to wed
   He knew he ought to, but he didn't

He planned to try harder at work
   He knew he needed to, but he didn't

He might have been good at almost anything
   He knew he should have been, but he wasn't

He shouldn't have been homeless, but he was
   He didn't want to lose his job, but he did

He'd never asked to be born, but he was
   He was going to discuss it with his folks, but he didn't

He wasn't supposed to die on a cold winter's night
   under a bridge, in a cardboard box, his feet wrapped in rags...
Copyright © | Year Posted 2019

Poem

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Babbit Avatar
November 22, 2019 at 9:49 AM
A sad epitaph of life, missed.
Moorman Avatar
November 15, 2019 at 1:29 AM
Gershon, what a great write. The irony of you and I refer to a man making a cardboard box his home is amazing. I wrote a poem a few years ago entitled The Cardboard Man. You may want to check it out. I enjoyed your write immensely because of the absolute truth expressed in each line.
Wolf Avatar
November 15, 2019 at 3:31 PM
Thank you so much for your enthusiastic comment, Curtis I will be looking for 'The Cardboard Man' soon. Thanks, Gershon
Foster Avatar
November 11, 2019 at 11:25 AM
Wow. You know how to break my heart. I want to knit socks, and leave them under bridges everywhere, from here to England. This is your fault. I am going to need more yard. Ann
Wolf Avatar
November 11, 2019 at 1:22 PM
Everything is always my fault at home, so why should it be the same elsewhere?! LOL. Smiles, Gershon
Adams Avatar
November 10, 2019 at 2:48 PM
that ending is powerful and really brings this piece together perfectly....poignant my friend, it haunts.... hugs
Wolf Avatar
November 10, 2019 at 4:23 PM
Thank you so much for your feedback, and the detail in your feedback, my friend. Warmest wishes, Gershon
Thompson Avatar
November 10, 2019 at 1:29 PM
Wow!! So powerful Gershon. One of your best...Ron :)
Wolf Avatar
November 10, 2019 at 1:47 PM
Thank you so much for the love on this one, Ron! Warm wishes, Gershon
Krutsinger Avatar
November 10, 2019 at 3:36 AM
Ooh. This is truly the truth of it; risk takers, keep taking chances please!
Wolf Avatar
November 10, 2019 at 12:31 PM
Right, right, right! --- although not utterly foolish risks. Smiles, Gershon
Somadas Avatar
November 9, 2019 at 11:09 PM
Time and tide never waits.. Nice poem..
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