Aftermath

In the aftermath it’s almost impossible to tell,
What was the straw that broke my camels back.
It could have been a major event or a very minor one,
It could have been something catastrophic or just a word in the wrong place,
It could have been a heart break or an insensitive comment.
These factors seldom matter in the aftermath when it is too late
For analysis and soul searching. In the final analysis of the aftermath
Only guilt, tears, sadness and consequences remain in the hearts of those
Who thought they cared and no change in the heart and mind
of those who didn’t care to begin with.
For most life goes on as if nothing ever happened and I was ever there.
Memories remain with the few, photographs with the many,
Photographs are as worthless as memories expose those full of guilt,
Those that could have, those that would have, those that should have.
The aftermath leaves very little trace, just a small blip in a short time line
Where eventually everything is deleted. It is sad that life has come to this
And sadder still when the fight to make things a wee bit better dissipates
And the will to do something about it disappears.
Then there is nothing left to do but put the gun
Under my chin and pull the trigger
Have that in your memories
in the aftermath
the blood splatters
in your memory
not mine