Death - Counting The Cost Poem by Paul Warren

We spoke together quietly one afternoon of his son now lost
I came to realise as he spoke of his struggling with its cost
His son was young and just starting with his own life's journey
What happened made him question if as a father he was worthy
His son was one night partying making mistakes which cost his life
Drinking, madly driving and not wearing a belt was his list of strife
Lost control of the car rolled over onto to him halfway out of the door
His life was squashed from him and his story became no more.

As we spoke together I could see the strain in his half-closed eyes
At his quiet times now the thoughts of his only son back to him flies
If he'd worn the belt, not drunk or driven would it have ended in that way?
His son would be with him together and for the future he would stay
It had been a year past since it happened and his mind became at ease
Until his son's birthday dawned and his thoughts then turned for him to grieve
How do I tell the world about it who haven't listened to his saddened tale
The need to drive safely together and not experience a tale in grief's unkindly wail!
© Paul Warren Poetry