The Domino Effect

The Domino Effect

Written by: T. L. O’Neal

 

Does anyone ever think about

all the choices that they make?

How it affects other people’s lives,

what they will be when they wake?

 

Does anyone ever thinks what happens,

when they abort a child?

All the generations that are lost,

the souls that are exiled.

 

Or when one is murdered in cold blood,

gone from their families; lost are their words.

Will their soul be damned to hell,

and their thoughts never again to be heard?

 

What happens when you breakup your family,

and the different paths that you take?

Is it a good decision or bad,

will their sprits grow or will they break?

 

When a bird’s egg is broken,

in time what will be lost?

Will the sky go barren,

Is it all worth the cost?

 

If you break one’s spirit,

and take away their dreams.

Does it make you feel better,

and lift your self-esteem?

 

Break someone’s will,

and puncture their soul.

Do you take the responsibility,

for your part in the role?

 

At what cost are your decisions,

when put into play by hate?

Does it make the world a better place,

and your life easier to relate?

 

Everyone has a choice,

in which direction they go.

The path you choose is yours,

to make friends or foes.

 

Sometimes in the choices you make

you can’t change things back.

Life moves on without you,

see now what your life lacks.

 

What good is it to gain the world,

if you lose your very soul.

Is it a good trade off,

what is your spiritual toll?

 

Choose wisely your path,

from now till the end.

Because it affects everyone,

living in love or sin.

 

If something good happens to you,

do you pass it on to another?

Make the world a better place,

and that person a brother.

 

Everything that you do,

or everyone you neglect,

has reactions… good or bad,

it’s called the domino effect.

 

Reviews

[Siobhan MacIntyre]

Very thought-provoking questions and ideas.

I am quite amazed that you have not been the cyber-equivalent of dive-bombed by angry vultures over the abortion stanza. Any time anyone calls me on my beliefs in that regard (I am anti-) I just quite simply say, "Have you ever had an abortion? If not, shut the hell up because you have no idea based in reality of what is the actual cost."


Everything we do does affect others. Choosing one avenue ends the possibilities that a different choice would have afforded. Careless words maim relationships. Selfish decisions maim hearts. Everything interacts.

Very profound, my friend. ;-)

[Antony]

Hey T, nice to have you back, I have missed all your great stories, this is a very thought provoking poem, you hit the reader right in the gut with this powerful piece, a lesson we all need to think about in all areas of our lives. Good job my friend.
Tony

[shadowed heart]

Well I have been on vacation and when I came back this was on for me to read. I find this poem extremely interesting! I love it really! But in another way I believe in what your saying but where I went to school I saw so many young mothers give birth then throw their babies in the trash just to hide it! It was horrifying really! And the fact that it is a dominoe effect-Your absolutely right it is! I believe it effects even more then we can see. Very good poem {I like your stanza} I enjoyed this alot thank-you for yourinvite i always find this an honor!

[Le' Pugh']

I, for one love dominos... but one must be very careful when playing.

It seems every move you make affects the outcome of the game until you either win or lose or cause someone else to win or lose... is that the point?

I think I just had an epiphany. Need to see a doctor about that.

Brilliant writing, my friend...

Simply Le'

[Diana Owen Busy with Li..]

wonderful work... this was really enjoyable

[Gordon Greene]

This is probably the deepest piece I've read by you and very different than the rest of your work.

I really like it a lot. It says what it needs to in all the right places and really challenges the reader to look inside.

I couldn't agree with your points more...

Gordon

[Taja B.]

I loved the domino theme in this poem. It is weaved into your ideas very nicely. Plus, I think this is a well written and thought provoking poem with wise and true words.

Nice job. Thanks for sharing.:)

[Spoken]

"will their sprits grow or will they break?"

did you mean "spirits" or are you referring to the pole that seperates the fore-and-aft sail as a metaphor? I'm just not sure.

Does anyone ever thinks what happens,
when they abort a child?
All the generations that are lost,
the souls that are exiled?

this was very interesting to me. It set a lightbulb off in my head, because people generally only think of the one life, the unborn child, that they've murdered and not the generations lost who would have come from that child. Very deep thought provoking peice full of truths. I really enjoyed this!

[Debra Stevens Edwards (..]

This is a profound statement of fact. A truth that can not be denied. I only disagree on one part, the part about The abortions I believe that God takes them home with him. Where he loves them and sends them out to the world again. still this ask some thought provoking questions and very profound thoughts as well.
Great write.
Hugs Debby

[Gary H]

I like the idea of the domino stanzas. Would have been interesting to see what happened when you put the 'domino stanzas' back in the bag, gave them a shake and see what order they reappeared - only because
each one could begin or end the poem and maybe change the ambience. OK, so you have written this for a specific reason and I am being unfair to suggest you do such a thing.

There's some thoughts in the poem that are bound to cause a reaction, particularly the abortion stanza. However, thats why words are written and taking the time for such a reflective piece is a good thing - helping us come to terms with the past that I guess never goes away - and showing us how we can live with the good and the bad feelings.

If I was to reshape the poem my fav ending would be -

Choose wisely your path,
from now till the end.
Because it affects everyone,
living in love or sin.

Good to see you writing poetry - must be a while since the last?