His Sad Goodbye

House in the bend
at a curve in the road
so many stories
that remain untold

First night of completion
the fresh scent of wood
a few pans of paint
and the greatest of moods

He sat there alone
a pipe in his hand
this place he called home
a proud owner of his land

Alone in the world
with naught but a dog
night would soon fall
and bring along the fog

Warmed by the fire
As he reads his book
soon becoming drowsy
and falls asleep in his nook

The seasons pass by
life grows him older
he fixes his home
with the strength in his shoulder

The man traps his food
relying on himself
all have forgotten him
and removed his pictures from the shelf

Years became longer
his loyal dog soon died
his health was failing him
of this he could no longer lie

The man heads for town
for some mild diversion
but everything has changed
it was such a conversion

They gave him strange looks
from head to tow
he really was alone
their own personal show

Depression grasped at him
all his friends were long gone
he couldn't go back now
his life seemed so wrong

Forlorn and disunited
an alien in his home
he loathed who he had become
destined forever to rome

His home looked bitter
the white paint was peeling
the shutters were cockeyed
then his mind started reeling

Walking past the shed
and past his dog's grave
he got his razor
and began to shave

the cold steel was tempting
but he knew he must wait
dressed all in black
he headed out the gate

the man saw the gasoline
in its rusted container
a smile wrinkled his eyes
the first one in forever

he went through the house
giving its final christening
with the putrid fluid
of the old gasoline

He stood in the doorway
looking down to the floor
he lit a match and threw it through the door

The flames blazed up
his life was complete
he grabbed the rope
and took to the creek

The tree stood crooked
apart from the rest
a sturdy specimen
looked to be the best

Death claimed the tree
and so he claimed his life
hanging by the tree
his body released its strife

Gone forever
alien to his friends
but he'll still hang there
till the very end.