Heart Attack

Heart Attack

He took the whip once in a rage

And shook it at her where she stood,

Youth standing up to ailing age—

But beat her, no, he never would.

That’s when he faltered in his path,

Grew dizzy and began to slump.

Between his tenderness and wrath

His heart stopped and forgot to pump.

Between the two on either side,

Supported as his knees went slack,

His wife and daughter came and tried

To hold him up and bring him back. 

Turned purple first, then he turned pale—

I pitied him, for once, to see

The heart, that made him rage, would fail:

His love was his worst enemy.