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Two Pairs of Shoes

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In memory of brothers Jacques and Torin Lakeman who tragically died together in December 2014 after taking drugs purchased off the web ... the level of toxicity of these drugs was lethal

Two pairs of scuffed sports shoes Remain where they were kicked off on the bedroom floor Never to be worn again Two brothers playing football in heaven But their footwear remains here on earth As do their broken hearted parents I wonder about the supplier of the drugs that killed them ... Would he like to be in their shoes now? Two Shoes Contest Sponsored by John Lawless 07-30-17

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Janice Canerdy

Date: 9/2/2017 10:43:00 PM

Jan, thank you for entering my contest, CONGRATULATIONS on your win. Janice

Jan Allison
Date: 9/3/2017 2:22:00 AM

Thanks SO much for featuring my poem on your winner's list Janice. I think of the two lads every single day - the beakers they used to drink from are when they used to play with my son are still in my kitchen cupboard:-( hugs jan xx

Eve Roper

Date: 8/8/2017 8:11:00 PM

I am back to say your poem was very good.. a special meaning behind it ... a winner ~*

Jan Allison
Date: 8/10/2017 3:15:00 PM

Thanks Eve it didn't place in the contest but that's the risk we take with the premiere contests and the reason i enter fewer and fewer on the site:-) hugs jan xx

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 8/2/2017 7:28:00 PM

This is so moving and powerful Jan....with a sadness any parent should never experience. For me there is a tiny comfort in the fact that they left this world together. I am sure this will do well in the contest. : )

Jan Allison
Date: 8/2/2017 7:34:00 PM

I'm not bothered about a contest placement Connie the poem would never have been written if it wasn't for the contest prompt. The parents are currently raising funds for a skateboard park in the village where the boys lived... their names will live on forever:-) hugs jan xx

Joanna Daniel

Date: 8/1/2017 8:56:00 AM

Very sad, Jan, such dangerous items shouldn't be so easily available, blame 'development':(

Jan Allison
Date: 8/2/2017 7:35:00 PM

It's heartbreaking Jo I wish no other parent had to suffer the loss of a child this way but you see it in the press on an almost daily basis:-( hugs jan x

Eve Roper

Date: 7/31/2017 8:42:00 PM

Oh, so very sad, Jan, I remember when you told us about the two brother passing at the same time.. So very devastating for a parent.. luck in the contest.. ~*

Jan Allison
Date: 8/2/2017 7:36:00 PM

It is something that will always be with me Eve and having to tell my son was the hardest call I have ever had to make:-( hugs jan x

John Michaels

Date: 7/31/2017 3:01:00 PM

Sad and powerful write, Jan. Good luck with the contest. Regards, John.

Jan Allison
Date: 8/2/2017 7:37:00 PM

Thanks John it is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life:-( hugs jan xx

Winged Warrior

Date: 7/31/2017 5:11:00 AM

If we could all swop shoes for a day...beautiful write my friend...god bless...^WW^

Jan Allison
Date: 8/2/2017 7:41:00 PM

Indeed ^WW^ we may learn some home truths if we did:-( hugs jan xx

Probir Gupta

Date: 7/31/2017 1:50:00 AM

So touching in the beginning ... So striking a flash of thunder in the end ... an abrupt bend ...

Jan Allison
Date: 8/2/2017 7:42:00 PM

such heartbreak Probir :-( hugs jan xx

Russell Sivey

Date: 7/30/2017 11:38:00 PM

What a touching write my friend! I love the power of the last line, it made the whole poem pop! This is such a sentimental piece, heartfelt and sad! I feel so sorry for the family, and you too, Jan, as you knew them as well! Awesome poem, Great Work!! So glad to see you still here, you had me worried last poem...

Jan Allison
Date: 8/2/2017 7:45:00 PM

I have endured such heartache Russel and know i would never have got through the last 3 years if it hadn't been for me starting to write when my hubby was undergoing surgery... it's been the toughest and most challenging period of my life but i feel like I'm in a protective bubble I guess that is why I write with humour most of the time as there are other's who have been through bad times too and i try and make folks smile with many of my poems:-) hugs Jan xx

Arthur Vaso

Date: 7/30/2017 10:51:00 PM

Very touching :)

Jan Allison
Date: 8/2/2017 7:46:00 PM

Thanks my friend without the contest prompt it would never have been written:-) hugs Jan xx

Agnes Krampe

Date: 7/30/2017 9:42:00 PM

Impressive how you take an everyday item like shoes to tell their story. I am sorry about your loss, Jan. Good luck in the contest. I feel it will be hard to top this one.

Jan Allison
Date: 7/31/2017 3:53:00 AM

I think about the boys every single day as the plastic beakers they drank from are still in my cupboard. the tragedy is young lives are still being lost to these drugs - they are not aware of the strength or what is in the tablets they purchase. I am not bothered about a contest places Agnes,because without the contest prompt the poem would never have been written:-) hugs jan xx

Edward Mccall

Date: 7/30/2017 4:33:00 PM

What a sad and heartbreaking poem. However sometimes the truth is better received in sadness and heartbreak. It is a shame those two young men had to die but hopefully good memories of them live on. A well written poem Jan.

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2017 4:38:00 PM

I have many happy memories of when they used to play at our house and I wrote and read poems at their memorial service and also at a fund raiser the parents did for Parkinson's disease. Now they are raising funds for a skateboard park in their name:-) hugs Jan xx

Joe Maverick

Date: 7/30/2017 4:27:00 PM

A sad truth that affects to many Jan, and yet there is still that demand for the chance of unfettered experimenting in life, I suppose many would say in support that incidences like this can't be helped on balance, I think life is complex enough anyway, and its all too much and engenders 'to much' a terrible waste.'

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2017 4:36:00 PM

Thanks for your comment Joe - people will experiment with drugs and that will never change its just the stuff that was purchased off the web was lethal and about 7 times the strength that would normally be tolerated by the body:-( hugs Jan xx

Heidi Sands

Date: 7/30/2017 4:10:00 PM

A very sad write and you ended it well.

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2017 4:14:00 PM

A tragic tale that is based on truth:-( hugs jan x

Niall Fulham

Date: 7/30/2017 2:15:00 PM

Hi Jan , such a sad write and so many feeling the ripples for ever :((

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2017 3:35:00 PM

It's heartbreaking to think they lost their only children together in this tragedy which rocked out little Island .I know you have some experience dealing with the bereaved Niall I guess it is something that you never ever come to terms with you just have to live with the grief:-( hugs jan xx

Joseph May

Date: 7/30/2017 1:20:00 PM

So sad Jan.....Powerful write ...

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2017 1:22:00 PM

Thanks Jospeh it is a tragedy that rocked our little community:-( hugs jan xx

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 7/30/2017 1:19:00 PM

- A cruel tragedy, young people destroy their own lives - So sad, Jan - Excellent written for the contest, good luck - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2017 1:21:00 PM

Its a tragedy in so many ways Anne-Lise. Two young lives lost and parents absolutely devastated:-(hugs jan xx

Maureen Mcgreavy

Date: 7/30/2017 11:47:00 AM

Touching write, good kick in the gut with that last line :) xomo

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2017 12:10:00 PM

Sadly its based on the death of 2 brothers from our little Island who died in 2014. They met up in the UK to go to see their favourite football team Manchester United play, took drugs one of them had got off the web and were found dead in their hotel room:-( hugs jan xx

Casarah Nance

Date: 7/30/2017 11:45:00 AM

:( that is sad

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2017 12:07:00 PM

I can't imagine the pain of losing one child let alone both children at the same time, they were aged just 19 and 20 Cas. Their parents are currently in the process of raising money for a skateboard park which will be called 'Jactor' using their first names. :-) hugs jan xx

Ilene Bauer

Date: 7/30/2017 9:18:00 AM

excellent! you nailed this one, jan! so sad...

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2017 11:59:00 AM

Thanks Ilene:-) the tragedy rocked the Island community and it was the most terrible time for us as a family, especially my son, who had been friends with them both and they regularly played at our house. :-( hugs jan xx

Tim Smith

Date: 7/30/2017 8:41:00 AM

This is so sad and every parents nightmare Jan.

Jan Allison
Date: 7/30/2017 8:45:00 AM

I think of the lads every single day Tim as the drinking beakers they used when they came to play at our house are still in my kitchen cupboard:-(hugs jan xx