Carla Knew Her Life Was Short
by Erwin Jones
Carla loved the dark.
She knew her life was short.
She always talked about heaven
And flying away.
But, I never believed
I would live to see that day.
Carla knew her life was short.
Carla was a very decent chile,
She had manners and discipline.
Oh yes! Ah rememba her lovely smile.
Carla was beautiful,
from without and within.
She always wanted to be in school.
No bway could tek Carla mek fool.
No kay how handsome ih handsome
And how cool ih cool.
Carla strongly believed
In the golden rule.
Like every young chile
Carla's dreams were illusively wild.
But deep down inside
Carla wondered about life and it's
Many bumpy rides.
How come I don't have my parents
At my side?
A father and a mother
To console and comfort me?
A father and a mother
Whom I may talk about with pride?
Carla asked me, on a sunny afternoon,
As we sat under the Mango tree in the yard.
What could I say but the truth.
Your father, chile was a drunking brute.
He wasn't a good man.
He was quick to use his hand.
Many days your mama was bruised and swollen,
Or some part of her broken.
And one night he gave her a terrible beating;
And that was the last time
He heard her breathing.
He was found guilty of murder
And was sentenced to death.
On the 12th of March in the Gallows
He was hung by his neck.
Carla loved the dark.
She knew her life was short.
She always talked about heaven
And flying away.
But, I never believed
I would live to see that day.
It happened on a bleaky Friday, In the month of June.
The clock on the wall showed half pass seven,
And Carla always came home soon.
She was never a chile
Who came home late from school.
I remember I began to lose my cool.
Then suddenly the doorbell rang.
I quickly opened the door,
To see a uniformed Policeman;
Who said, "Good night mom,
I believe you will need to accompany me To the station."
I said, "Is anything wrong?"
The policeman hesitated
Before he gave me an answer,
"Mom, I believe I have bad news
About your daughter,
She was found today
Hanging from a tree by the river.
And in her had we found this letter.
Dear Auntie,
I am really sorry to leave this way
But the time has come for me to fly away.
You are my only true mother.
And you have always been at my side.
I pray my spirit will be with you
And bye and bye I love you too.
I felt my blood rushed to my brain.
My heart was beating as if it was cut open wide.
Is this really true?
Did my little Carla commit suicide?
My God! I lost my one and only chile,
I couldn't stand nor walk.
And then I remember.
Carla loved the dark.
She knew her life was short.
She always talked about heaven
And flying away.
But, I never believed
I would live to see that day.
Carla knew her life was short.
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