A SHATTERED DREAM

 
            HE HAD SCRIMPED, SAVED AND DONE WITHOUT
            HIS DREAM, ONE DAY WORKING FOR HIMSELF
            THAT DAY FINALLY CAME, HE OPENED HIS SHOP
            HOURS OF CLEANING, PAINTING, STOCKING SHELFS

            AT FIRST THE GOING WAS INCREDIBLY TOUGH
            AS IS USUAL FOR A BUSINESS STARTED NEW
            LONG HOURS HE WORKED, SACRIFICED WEEKENDS
            HE DID EVERYTHING HE KNEW HOW TO DO

            OVER THE YEARS HIS BUSINESS STEADILY GREW
            HE TOOK PRIDE IN WHAT HE HAD DONE
            A PILLAR OF HIS COMMUNITY HE BECAME
            THE OUTSTANDING BUSINESS AWARD HE WON

            AND THEN ONE DAY THE CORONA VIRUS CAME
            OVER NIGHT HIS DREAM VANISHED, DISAPPEARED
            NOT CONSIDERED AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS
            HIS DOORS ABRUPTLY CLOSED AS HE HAD FEARED

            EMPLOYEES, LOYAL FRIENDS HE HAD TO LET GO
            HE WATCHED AS FEAR AND PANIC SETTLED IN
            THE UNCERTAINTY OF THEIR FUTURE LOOMED
            A SOLUTION, HE HAD NO IDEA WHERE TO BEGIN

            “WOULD LIFE RETURN TO NORMAL?” HE WONDERED
            ODDS OF HIS BUSINESS SURVIVING WERE SLIM
            HIS ONE OPTION, A JOB MAKING MINIMUM WAGE
            AS THE VIRUS WREAKED HAVOC, DEADLY AND GRIM

            IT IS SAD WHEN ONE’S DREAMS ARE SHATTERED
            WHEN SOMETHING PRECIOUS IS TAKEN AWAY
            YOU CAN GIVE UP, HAVE YOURSELF A PITY PARTY
            OR BE OPTIMISTIC, THERE’S ALWAYS ANOTHER DAY

            YOU HAVE TO ROLL WITH LIFE’S PUNCHES
            AND SOMETIMES YOU WILL TAKE ONE ON YOUR CHIN
            SO PICK YOURSELF UP AND BRUSH YOURSELF OFF
            IT’S THE AMERICAN WAY, YOU START ALL OVER AGAIN