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Screeching tires, shattering glass,
Twisting metal, fiberglass.
The scene is set; it all goes black.
The curtain raised: the final act.
Sirens raging in the night, Sounds of horror, gasps of fright.
Intense pain, the smell of blood; Tearing eyes begin to flood.
They pull out our bodies one by one,
What is going on? We were only having fun!
One of my friends is missing. What did I do?
Her scattered belongings everywhere;
In the road there lies her shoe.
A man is leaning over me and looking in my eyes,
“What were you thinking, son?
Did you really think that you could drive?”
He pulled up the sheet, still looking in my eyes,
“If you’d only called your Mom or Dad, you’d still be alive!”
I started to scream, I started to yell
But no one could hear me; no one could tell.
They put me in an ambulance; they took me away.
The doctor at the hospital exclaimed, “DOA!”
My father’s in shock, my mother in tears.
She collapses in grief, overcome by the fear.
They take me to this house and place me in this box.
I keep asking what is happening, But I can’t make it stop.
Everyone is crying. My family is so sad.
I wish someone would answer me. I’m starting to get mad.
My mother leans over me and kisses me good-bye,
My father pulling her away, she is screaming, "WHY"?
They lower my body into a dirt grave,
It feels so very cold, I yell to be saved.
Then I see an angel. I begin to cry.
Can you tell me what is happening? She replies, “You died.”
I can’t be dead; I’m still so young!
I want to do so many things – like sing, and dance, and run.
What about college or graduation day?
What about a wedding? Please – I want to stay.
The angel looked upon me, and with a saddened voice,
“It didn’t have to end like this; you knew you had a choice.
I’m sorry, it’s too late now; time I can’t turn back.
Your life is finished; that, my son, is a fact!”
Why did this happen? I didn’t want to die!
The angel she embraced me and with her words she sighed,
“Son, this is the consequence you paid to drink and drive.
I wish you’d made a better choice; if you had, you would be alive.
It doesn’t matter if you beg me, or plead on bended knee,
There is nothing I can do, you have to come with me.”
Looking down at my family, I said my last good-bye.
“I’m sorry I disappointed you, Dad. Mommy, please don’t cry.
I didn’t mean to hurt you, or cause you any pain.
I’m sorry all you’re left with is a grave that bears my name.
I’m sorry all your dreams for me have all been ripped away;
The plans for my future all gathered in a grave.”
It was such a stupid thing I did.
I wish I could take it back.
But the curtain is being lowered.
SO ENDS THE FINAL ACT.
© 1999, Lia Fail (aka Lisa Teller). All rights reserved.
(First published by Passions in Poetry at netpoets.com/poems/sad/0028006.htm
& subsequently published by "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Tough Stuff" and 100-poems.com/poems/best/0028006.htm).
A message from Lisa Teller, who can be contacted through her page on netpoets.com/poems/sad/0028006.htm :
“I wrote this in hopes young people will realize they are not invincible and that bad things don't always happen to the other guy; because sometimes the other guy is them!!! PLEASE DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE. IT DESTROYS LIVES!!!”
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