BrokenEchoes

  We left church after dark On a cool October evening We made our way down the concrete steps Toward the step-side Chevy Father was exceedingly proud of it Blood red glinting in the moonlight There was an older gentleman Gaunt and grey and stooped I could tell that he needed help He was uncertain on the steep stairs Searching furtively for the next one Shaking arms on the railing “Help him,” I implored my father He looked angrily into my eyes Then he walked on He offered the elder no aid I had never been more disappointed My father knowingly refused to help He continued to the truck uncaring The old man likely never crosses his mind I recall that event often That evening I learned an important lesson I had put too much faith in my father He was just a man  

  When I was offered a bowl of flame I drank eagerly There was a promise of havoc And I had a thirst for chaos I yearned for any novelty Any disruption to this mundane survival So I drained the blazing vessel And dashed it to shards on the floor I readied myself for excitement that did not come The wildfire spread within me, but quickly Dwindled to a burnt-out smolder Ashes coated my guts  My bones were soot-blackened I should never have expected more I returned with disappointment to my empty existence.