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 SHELVES

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
OVERNIGHT 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

Thursday, June 23, 2022