His shoes’ soles are gone from the incessant walking.
Under the scorching sun he is bathed in sweat.
Armed with numerous certificates,
He embarks on a futile job hunting journey.
It’s not right, it’s not fair, it just is.

He hobbles home to an empty house.
Empty is the operative word describing his life.
To what does he owe this misfortune?
Is it a conspiracy, or sheer bad luck?
What is his destiny?

He calls on his wife.
Another empty part of his life.
The phone rings once, twice, thrice…
No answer. No surprise.
His life is a plummeting nonsense.

He stares long and hard at the rope.
The rope stares right back him.
They share an indescribable understanding.
With its help he shall find a sanctuary,
From all his worldly misery.

With teary eyes he caresses the rope into a noose.
It obeys his every command.
They have become best friends since he bought it.
It’s the only thing in his life that seems to care.
“Take me home dear rope, take me home.”

An annoying knock interrupts him.
It’s the annoyed landlord again.
Can’t a man get a break?
He lies that he will have the rent tomorrow.
He is handed an eviction notice.

His life eviscerated, he decides.
No job, no wife, no home,
No illusions, no friends, no hope,
He ties the rope to a ceiling board,
And his life ends at his own noose.

Dazzling light awakens him.
An angel informs him that he is in heaven.
He is jubilant now that he can have a life.
But the angel cuts his jubilation short,
For heaven doesn’t accommodate life takers.

The angel shows him his next twenty hours.
His phone rings.
His wife had been in a coma now she’s calling.
His phone rings again.
A major company would be honored to employ him.

If only he had waited one more day.
If only he had held onto hope.
Just a little more patience,
His empty life would have been full.
It’s not fair, it’s not right, it just is.