The Poetics prompt at dVerse Poets Pub today is to write about a first time for something. I thought of something that I have only done once, and am thankful I’ve never had happen again. But there are people who have had this happen so many times they maybe can’t even remember the first time. My prayers are with them, my hope that they recognize the lie.
Not Better Off Dead
Clearly I recall the first time
the thought entered my mind
They’d be better off if I was dead
I immediately knew it was wrong
but still a method to my madness
began to form in the recesses of
my deeply troubled mind
I could picture the bottle of pills
designed to make me better
but could just as easily
be my demise
Then they’d be free, I’d be free
The Psalmist wrote
The angel of the LORD encamps around
those who fear him, and he delivers them
That first time His angel
was encamped around me
He delivered me from that first thought
made me know it was wrong
ensured it was the last time
that thought ever entered my mind
Now we are free and together
because the Lord let me know
I was not better off dead