Her parents were quarreling,
As all other nights.
She wanted to get far
Away from these fights.
Her mind filled with thoughts,
A drunk-driven car,
And now here she lies,
So close, yet so far.
Her mother and father
Were drowning in hate.
For helping her family
It just was too late.
Her mind was invaded
With pain from passed years.
Her clothing was soaking
In handfuls of tears.
Her mother and father
Had fought all her life.
Her family was fully
Corroded with strife.
Her dad's awful mouth
Responded too much.
Shunned by their neighbours,
Her family was such.
She got down the stairs
Without being seen.
This fight was the biggest
There ever had been.
She went to the kitchen,
Called me on the phone,
But all she received
Was a cold, lonesome tone.
She wanted to leave,
To just get away.
Did she love her parents?
Well, maybe someday.
She was aware, though, that
She was not alone.
She could think things out
Better at my home.
When back in her room,
She packed up her case
With anger and sorrow
And fear on her face.
And still one house member
Was left in her head.
She took Rover with her
After he'd been fed.
She and her greyhound
Just walked out the door.
Her dad's fists were faster
Than ever before.
Her mom blocked his punches
As she always had,
But their boxing matches
Were never this bad.
She walked down the street,
Dry tears on her face;
She'd try to phone once,
Then on to my place.
She dialed up my number,
Sat next to her dog,
And heard my "Hello"
In the dark, misty fog.
I had just got home, and
Was going to call,
But she called me first,
And told me it all.
I said I'd come get her.
She said "Please don't try;
I'll walk off my sorrow
So that I won't cry."
I granted her wish,
But with much regret.
'Twas no use to argue
Once her mind was set.
I'm overprotective.
She's safe with her dog.
I gave all my fears
To the dark, misty fog.
I'll just have to wait
Until she arrives,
And then we can plan out
The rest of our lives.
Instead of that, I should have
Wished on a star;
For now here she lies,
So close, yet so far.
Her one wish was only
A real life to live.
How I wished that this
To her could I give.
And just wait a while,
Then here's where she'd be.
Our whole lives together
Is what I could see
She walked down the street
With much the same thought.
Only peace and love
Is what she had sought.
She knew she'd find these
If she was with me,
Because no one other
To turn to had she.
She walked toward my house
Where she could be free
With thoughts of refuge
And sanctuary.
I stood on the street
In front of my home,
But still within hearing
Distance from the phone.
The fog was too thick
To look at my place.
Your hand could not be seen
In front of your face.
Someplace in the fog,
A man could not think.
He wrongly decided
To have one more drink.
As she walked the road
Leading to my home,
A man used his keys
Instead of the phone.
The man had blurred vision;
The fog didn't help.
Then soon screeching tires, and
A startled dog's yelp.
I saw Rover lying
At her cold, limp feet.
adrenaline flowed as
I found no heartbeat.
Then only two sounds could
Be heard in the fog:
the cry of a man, and
The howl of a dog.
Though the car was gone,
I found the back plate.
Was heaven helping me,
Or was it just fate?
I called an ambulance
And stayed 'til they came.
I then went to find out
His address and name.
I went to the police
To find the culprit.
When I found the owner,
My teeth did I grit.
Fate and Irony-
Funny things they are.
The number belonged to
Her own father's car!
Her dad was arrested.
His defense did fail.
Was it really right to
Just throw him in jail?
He ruined his family
And slaughtered my life.
He murdered the one whom
Would have been me wife!
It was quite confirmed
His car was the tool
That rammed all of my love
Into a blood pool.
Her mom testified
As to where he'd gone:
To get back his daughter,
My only loved one.
My love and my life
Her dad rearranged;
Yet what's done is done,
And cannot be changed.
I'm here at the funeral
That they hold for her.
One other came for it;
It is her mother.
The hospital let her
Come and say good-bye.
Her wounds were quite brutal;
The bill will be high.
We look at each other
And both realize
That the same conviction
Is burned in our eyes.
I think of the dreams
That we were to share
And then I think of
Those who didn't care
Of anything other
Than finding a way
Of 'Alcoholizing'
Their troubles away.
I must find a way
To stop the abusers
Of this liquid drug
That should have no users.
I will not use it
And that is because
It murders our loved ones
And that's all it does.
As I close the lid
Of my love's new home,
I know life goes on,
And I'm not alone.
The mem'ries of my love;
These no one will mar.
Always in my heart,
So close, yet so far.
-Layson Williams, 1992