Wrong decisions guided his life, and each time the penalty came, he died a little more. |
SLAM 2004 Finals: The prompt is proverbs. Write a poem, in free verse, based on any proverb of your choice (see a list of suggestions below, or use any other proverb you please.) You must, however, twist the proverb in some way, do something unexpected with it. A Man Can Only Die Once When Teacher caught me cheating, she sent me to the principal who used his giant paddle. A Man Can Only Die Once, they say, but it isn't true for returning to the classroom, the kids all laughed. I recall the wooden seat with me sinking lower as the pestilence of mockery etched lines across my heart. When I flunked out of Harvard, my father couldn’t look at me; the drive home was silent. A Man Can Only Die Once, they say, but it isn't true for when I reached the house, the silence turned to words. As I wilted in the heat of the anger of his scorn, a plague of self-contempt branded me in shame. When my wife called me a failure, she hired a good attorney; the court gave her the kids. A Man Can Only Die Once, they say, but it isn't true for when I tried to carry on, my losses bludgeoned me. As the loneliness of solitude tore upon my soul, I breathed a tortured breath and opened up to drink. When my grandson broke the windshield as I slammed the auto’s brakes, he landed in a twisted heap. A Man Can Only Die Once, they say, but it isn't true for as they lowered down my Ben, pain smothered out my heart. A hundred eyes were staring, slaying me with guilt; I accepted all the burden and rued my wretched life. And when the pearly gates called, I hung my head down low, but Peter offered choices. A Man Can Only Die Once, they say, but it isn't true. As my second door unlocked, I dived into the night. A new life is starting; I’ll change my former ways. I’ve vowed to make this journey a life of benevolent good. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |