Dawn Breaks Anew

A poem for your consideration based on the life of one of the men here and upon my observations of him today and yesterday.


Dawn Breaks Anew

Dawn broke over the field,
Light piercing the blades of grass,
Like shards etched out of the ice
As graceful skater weaves seamlessly to and fro.
The cold seeped into him until he was numb
To all but his pain and the relentless lies.
He awoke.
Another day to drink his wounds away,
To forget the hateful shouts of
"I wish you were dead."
"You are the son I don't have any more.
Get out of my life!"

He ached for his pain to leave him.
Yet, it followed him, his inseparable shadow,
Wielding taunt after taunt
Until he believed the lies and they become truth.
Loser. That's all I am, he thought.
A bum for life, my wretched destiny.
And so, he took his dole and drank it away
Until hands shook without ceasing until inebriation.
Friends parted. Deception become daily reality.

"God, if you are real, why don't you help me?"
"Why AREN'T you helping me?"
"You must not be real then!"
Agony. Mental torture. Sorrow. Loss.
He consumed his fulvous pints in vicious cycle.
Stellas next. Then gum. All counterfeits to hide the shame.
Surrounded by humanity but constantly ignored.
Loneliness and falsehoods his best mates.

Nine years later. Copious love, grace, and hope gently sown.
A transformed man with a grateful heart.
Atheist turned Christian.
Cheeky but tender with those who live as he once did.
Brilliant. Renewed. Comical. Patient with distinction.
Beloved son.
A father some day soon
Writing new futures bright with ambition and purpose.
Radiating smile both now and then
Revealing the light deeply placed within.