One

This is a short story in the form of a poem

Once upon a time, there were two birds

One that was loved, One that was hated,

Both are siblings, and they loved their mother even though she was abusive and crazy

One fell from on high, pushed off a building with an unseen force,

With sorrowful eyes, one watched his sister and mom falling, gone was her crazed embrace

One went to a hospital, an institution if you will

One went to a foster home, memories filled with regret, dreams filled with anguish,

Have they been separated forever?

One bird is loved, The other is hated,

Isn’t that how life is?

How cruel it was meant to be?

How unforgiving its denizens are programmed?

No, it surely is not!

One forgives another, one relieves another

One’s anguish is shared by another

One’s burden is carried by others

This is life is it not?

One’s dreams shattered, one’s ambitions fade away

One’s life is captured, never to be free again?

No, it is surely not!

One lives for another, one dies without regret

One asks for a favor, the other asks for compensation,

One will ask you, the other will tell, “is this life”, “it must surely be so”

But I say surely this is not! This surely cannot be the life you are living for!

Ah but yes my son it is surely so…this life may not be great nor kind, it may be cruel and unforgiving.

 But it is the life I live because I live it regardless of the pain or joy.

We are together son, so let’s enjoy it for those who cannot anymore.