Poem of the week: All For Naught by Michael E. Duckwall

Good morning and welcome to another Poem of the Week! Today’s, is All For Naught by Michael E. Duckwall, an absolutely incredible, powerful, heartbreakingly tragic piece all rolled into one. I’ve been a fan of Michael’s work since I first heard him read back in February, and have loved seeing the growth throughout this year. I very much look forward to reading (and sharing!) more of his work.

All For Naught

By Michael E. Duckwall

We've fooled ourselves into believing nature could be tamed.

All for naught, a dandelion growing in cracked concrete.

We've fooled ourselves, acting wide awake while we’re all

fast asleep. Midnight strikes early in the morning

nightmares sometimes become dreams. One summer

when I was young, we returned home from a camping trip

our dog had given birth while we were gone. With the hot

humid Ohio valley heat, the lack of care and the puppies

not getting properly cleaned in the few days before

we made it back home. Maggots had started to eat

these puppies' eyes, it was such a sad sight. My heart broke

as I held them one by one beneath the surface

a cold bucket of water. I was told drowning is a peaceful

way to die, these pups had already suffered enough.

Midnight strikes early in the morning, we fool ourselves

into thinking otherwise. Slowly, peacefully

I cried as I watched the bubbles rise, then stop.

Dreams turn into nightmares, those puppies sometimes

still haunt mine. We've fooled ourselves into believing

some deaths are more peaceful than the next; Yet

when midnight strikes we all fight for that last breath.

I was just about ten when I drowned those puppies

early in the morning, we barely saved their momma.

If I remember correctly, she got ran over by a car

not too long afterwards. I've fooled myself into believing

she didn't run out into the road on purpose.