Black Monday

A poem about my dad dying.

One phone call
Can change a life
One loss
Can change a life
One sentence
Can change a life
This I learned
On Black Monday

Call my father's house,
A strange voice answers,
Tells me to have my mother call.
Hang up the phone
Run outside
and sob-
"Grandma, I think something's happened to my dad."

Call my mom, tell her what happened
Hang up the phone
Cry and wait
Wait and cry
An hour later, the door opens
Mom walks in-
"I wish I didn't have to tell you this, but
honey, you're dad's dead."

Scream and weep
It can't be true
This isn't happening to me
Things were supposed to work out
Perfectly
This was nearly the best year of my life-
Not anymore

One phone call
Can change a life
One loss
Can change a life
One sentence
Can change a life
This I learned
On Black Monday