Jedd
Jedd Springfield suffered for ten years,
As did his family. He would come home bruised,
To find his wife and daughter in tears,
They knew he’d come home once again, hollow and abused.
Jedd did his best, when working at the mill, to avoid
Wyatt Chaplain, his foreman, his monkey on his back.
But each day it was inevitable, with the tactics Wyatt employed
To avoid a ferocious onslaught or mere verbal attack.
Wyatt, a control freak and a physically powerful beast,
Also had the wily ways of a fox and a face of a bloated fish.
He would take Jedd aside and look upon him as a feast.
Usually in the washroom, where Jedd granted his every wish.
Jedd was a proud man, of his family, his life and work skill.
He was physically small, short sighted and prone to disease.
He enjoyed working his forklift like an extra limb, until
Wyatt took control of his job. Now he had a life with no guarantees.
Jedd wrote poetry in his spare time, it grew darker over the years.
Wyatt spat in Jedd’s face, kicked, punched, sometimes he would
Yell of good times he’d had with Jedd’s wife. Jedd would drown in tears.
Wyatt would say what he’d do to his wife. Jedd fully understood.
Jedd’s daughter, Hayley, was also under threat.
So he took the clouts and boot and worked and tried to live,
Aware that – coward and weakling - would be his epithet.
Work was short, needed his job and his skill was all he had to give.
Then one day, he’d dropped Hayley off to school,
Stopped in the town for groceries and an eye test.
Climbed into his truck – behold, Wyatt with menace and drool,
In the passenger seat, glaringly filled with detest.
His fist wacked Jedd to the side of his head,
The knife struck bone in his upper arm.
Jedd fumbled for his gun, that he kept with dread,
Never wanting violence, or any wish to harm.
Jedd found his gun under his seat and aimed
At Wyatt’s gut – fired three times.
Wyatt was writhing, definitely maimed.
Jedd realised, he’d committed the crime of crimes.
Jedd cried – onlookers stopped, mouths agape.
Jedd’s head rested on the steering wheel.
Time stood still and there was no escape,
No more life for Jedd, in this moment so unreal.
Then, the slumped Wyatt, made a grab for Jedd’s wounded arm.
Jedd fired one more time, into Wyatt’s head.
Deed done, family free, sailing calm sea and no real harm.
Jedd went to court, was given time – and his life was dead.
This message has been edited by WondersmithWest from IP address 68.144.28.13 on Jun 26, 2005 3:59 PM
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