Gone At Last

The old man rose from his rocking chair

And cursed his way to the door.

How dare you want to be happy!

I feel nothing for you anymore!

He grabbed his hat and his walking stick,

And stuffed his feet into his shoes.

I don’t have to take this, he shouted,

I’ve made my choice and you lose!

He made his way to the sidewalk

And paused for a backward glance.

He’d been planning his move for quite a long time

And it seemed that now was his chance.

He walked a few blocks to the bus stop

And sat on the hard wooden bench.

No one would dare sit beside him

After getting a whiff of his stench.

Giving no thought to where he would go

Or how he would even survive,

He stubbornly clung to stupidity,

Thinking his charm would keep him alive.

Over the years he’d convinced himself

He was just a misunderstood guy.

Nobody really “got” him,

But he could never figure out why.

While it’s true he possessed an enjoyable wit

And loved to play the class clown,

Beneath the colorful costume he wore

Not a shred of remorse could be found.

He made them laugh; he was silly,

People loved to have him around,

But as soon as his show was ended,

The rage in his head would pound.

Once the mask was torn from his face,

And the truth he could no longer deny

The anger and hatred would surface;

It was pointless even to try.

The list of his sins is endless

And go back many years in time.

Some were deep buried secrets;

He dared tell none of his crimes.

But now he’s back on the road again,

His destination unknown.

It’s too late in life for changes.

Now he will reap what he’s sown.

So this is where we now find him,

With excuses for what he’d become.

It's easier just to fault someone else

Than accept blame for things he has done.

If you allow yourself to feel pity,

Or think perhaps you can help,

You'll end up paying a very dear price

And lose your own sense of self.

It’s not worth the effort; It’s not worth the pain.

It’s not worth the tears you would cry.

Because he’ll continue to break your heart.

Believe me, I know. I did try.