happiness for someone else

by J.J. Campbell

empty

you feel it every day

that gnawing feeling
eating your soul

sad truths beating
you at the end of
every night

you close your eyes
and know no woman
has ever told you
i love you and
meant it

the better half of
your life is gone

fleeting memories
of happiness for
someone else

father time chooses
to never relent or
cut you any slack

and as you search
for the key to the
gun closet

you scramble to
remember the lessons
you learned as a child
about making a choice
and living with the
consequences

one long last drink

you were always
good at accepting
fate