Tuesday, December 30, 2008

One Year Ago Today, A Whole Family......

----------------- Bulletin Message -----------------
From: Using God's tools † It's All For JESUS
Date: Dec 30, 2008 2:31 PM




If has been one year today and My prayers go out to the family and friends!!!




Think Before You Drink

The hurt, the misery,
the agony, the pain
It wasn't for naught,
don't let the heartbreak be in vain

The comments and pics on myspace,
the stories in the Toledo Blade
Looking and wondering in disbelief,
of what was the minivan made?

Stunned and shocked at all of the damage
which their vehicle substained
Distraught and heartbroken for the victims,
whom as a result to rest were lain

A picture is worth a thousand words
is how the saying goes
Seeing the faces of the mother and children,
touched many, only God knows

Their deaths just ohhh so senseless,
that's what most do think
Five precious lives lost instantly,
because a young man choose to drink

Celebrating the holidays with his family,
with 08 soon to begin
Not thinking that his festive indulgence
would result in a most tragic end

Its known that alcohol can blur one's vision
and your judgement it will impair
It'll make you say and do some things,
which normally, you wouldn't dare

Like driving on the expressway late at night,
headed in the wrong direction
And crashing into a family loaded mini van,
before your brain can made a correction

People tried to stop him at Taco Bell,
where he stopped briefly after leaving the bar
Brave citizens dutifully called 911,
knowing this man shouldn't be driving a car

The police arrived at the scene within minutes,
but the driver had already taken flight
An irrational decision which he did make,
on that cold, gloomy dreadful night

He drove a few miles down the road
but still he didn't have a clue
You shouldn't be driving towards other motorist,
their headlights urgently dodging you

Frightened drivers swerving frantically,
calling the police fast as they can
To tell of a pick up truck being driven,
by a confused and mixed up man

A loving family headed home after Christmas,
having not long hugged their kin
Who was to think that those warm "Goodbyes",
would become treasured memories .. for hearts to mend?

Out of the blue the black truck appeared,
in the dark of that fatal night
The driver so consumed with alcohol,
he didn't know which way was right

And then the unthinkable happened,
like a moment in the twilight zone
A desparate swerve trying to avoid the collision,
in a blink - half the family was gone

The impact crushed the front of the van,
the right side ripped totally away
Mom fatally injured from the stabbing metal,
helpless children thrown violently astray

What a horrible scene it must to have been,
small bodies scattered about in the street
And ohhh how ones' heart had to drop,
seeing a newborn in a damaged carseat

Less than eight minutes, that's all that it took,
from call one to this awful conclusion
Four fatalities announced there on the scene,
failed attempts to save the baby with contusions

Other family members - seriously injured,
will recover from their physical pain
But the scars left on the their broken hearts
will forever and always remain

Shocked and anquished souls cry out,
wanting to know the whats and the whys
But its tough to hear the sought out answers
through the much warranted heartfelt cries

The drunk driver received minor physical injuries,
complaining of pain in the face and the jaw
Oblivious to the fact that he had killed five people,
or the price he'll pay for breaking the law

Treated and released from the hospital the next day,
then booked into Lucas County Jail
Five counts of aggravated vehicular homicide,
his life is now a torturing living hell

This poem is a message to drinkers that drive,
it should be one of driver's ed required reads
Its not to pass judgement on the young man's action,
for sure he'll pay dearly for his deeds

So please take heed to this sad, sad story,
let it sink in your heart, mind and soul
May it stir up your emotions and make you remember this event
that is my one most wanted -desired goal

This statement won't sit right with all
it hurts so much the way they went
I'm sure most know within their heart,
that homicide was not the man's intent

The hype that alcohol brings happiness and joy
is the lie that advertisers give
When indeed alcohol is a potent depressant,
with remorseful pain he'll now have to live

My wish is that this poem reaches many,
I'll be content if it change just a few
If it prevents another tragedy such as this
I'll feel I got my point through

So please think before you drink and then drive
It can save you and others so much strife
The world need to learn from this harsh wake up call
Choosing sobriety can save someone's life.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Dedicated to the Griffin- Burkman Family
In Memory of Bethany and the Angels
Killed by a Drunk Driver 12/30/07

www. myspace. com/307161215


This space is for the Grim Reaper
www. myspace. com/152415923


Gwendolyn Collins
(former Toledoen)
1/10/08

www. myspace. com/swtladyg

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