Alive, full of life - -
laughing at jokes, I imagine,
grooving to the music on the radio
20 miles from his destination - -
Can't wait, can't wait to get home

But, he's dead now, finally lying,
spread-eagled on the road
not yet cold

And all I see are old black shoes,
shoes pointing my way
and a blanket-covered body
(so small... so young)
as our car, lavish with life, glides by

I've never seen a fresh-dead person
Never seen someone whose
last moment in life, first in death

caused so much confusion
(why are we not moving?)
anger (WHY are we still not moving? !)
then, bitter tears for the loss
(Oh, God......)

Rescue workers wandered alone,
foiled, forlorn, unfulfilled in the mission
to quicken the dead

He was alive, so alive, only
moments ago... like you, like me
full of plans, full of life, full of self - -
empty now, dead body on the road
Does he know that it only took a moment? ...


(4.18.06 - On the long drive to Disney World, of all places. So very sad.)

Esther Leclerc

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/one-moment/