The Whispering Tree

I knew that I shouldn’t be driving,

I’d had one more for the road,

So Jean and me were half cut, you see,

Were carrying quite a load.

We’d tried the Tequila slammers,

I’d even swallowed the worm,

I wish to hell I had lost the key

Then we’d both be home, and warm.

The road was most uninviting,

Was glistening in the dark,

We climbed on into the Beamer,

And headed out of the park.

The rain was a constant drizzle

As the Moon peeked over the trees,

I know that I should have listened

When Jean would entreat me, ‘Please!’

She always said that I drove too fast

And she was probably right,

I slammed my foot down flat to the boards

And sped away through the night.

The headlights cut a swathe through the trees

And lit the road in an arc,

I thought that we were invincible,

Speeding home in the dark.

It must have been a tyre that blew,

The Beamer suddenly veered,

The car careened off the road, it seemed,

No matter how I had steered.

It seemed to leap at a grove of trees

And hit the oak at a lean,

I was safe with my seatbelt on,

But Jean had flown through the screen.

She’d been sat quietly, holding my hand,

Her warmth was all that I felt,

She’d whispered softly her words of love,

Forgotten to put on her belt.

Now she lay spread on the bonnet there

Her head crushed into the tree,

I hoped and prayed, but I didn’t dare

Step out of the wreck, to see.

And then I heard her whispering words

Float back through the shattered screen,

‘If only you had listened to me…’

I said, ‘I know what you mean.’

‘You know our love was a special love,’

She seemed to whisper afar,

‘Just know my love will always be there,

I’ll beam it down from a star.’

My life is cold, and empty as well,

Since ever my love was lost,

I carry around my private hell

In a heart that is tempest tossed.

For now I know that I have no choice

When it all comes back to me,

If ever I need to hear her voice

I go to the whispering tree.

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[T.S. Sky]

Sad, thrilling, expressive, detailed.

[Coyote Poetry]

A very entertaining story shared in the poetry David. Sometime we need to listen to the warning signs. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[TPK Stories]

Such a tragedy and the guilt he must feel...great story.

[Avinash]

This poem should be made a mandatory reading for road safety purposes.

[Tony Jordan]

I guess, it might be madness brought on by grief and PTSD at the sight of losing her so tragically (great gory graphics BATMAN!!) or maybe the supernatural at work has indeed imbued the tree with her spirit but whatever the case the story is a cracking one.
Proving that it doesn't have to be big words (not that you arent totally capable of that though!!) to be a hair-raising and moving tale DLP

[Einstein Noodle]

breaks my heart ..its just too close to the true of life ...i had set myself to read another of your humorous romps so was doubly saddened ... another fine poem in your very strong voice
E.