Raindrops Falling On His Hair Poem by David Keig

The people standing all around
That slight limp body on the ground.

It shouldn’t be allowed you know
Said one old lady, even though
I think they bring it on themselves
They start on drugs when they're just twelve
They never have a chance it seems
Of having childlike childhood dreams.

I blame the parents, said her friend
They were not with her at the end
Nor were they there much in her life
If only someone else had tried
To bring her up a decent way
That’s really all I have to say.

The crowd dispersed and standing there
Raindrops falling on his hair
Stood one sad man sad man indeed
Seeming that he couldn’t leave
He wore the clothes of lonely men
Eyes heavy with abandonment
He wore the weight of someone frail
He wore the look of someone failed.

Then he knelt down and kissed the air
It was his daughter lying there.

19 September 2004