I killed a possum tonight;
It snuck underneath my tire.
I felt its violent last breath
from the cab of my car.
I wonder if it knew I tried to avoid it.
Did it think I ended its life on purpose?
That it was nothing but vermin?
Did it realize that I would turn the radio all the way down
To sit in the silence,
In mourning,
Begging for a forgiveness that cannot be received?
Will it haunt my dreams?
I hope it turns into the angel and the devil
that live on my shoulder.
I wish for it to grip its claws into my skin;
Leave marks on the surface;
Draw blood; I deserve it.
Retribution.
Reminder.
Revenge.
I killed a possum tonight;
Was it a punishment for me or for them?
About the Creator
Ashley Lima
I think about writing more than I write, but call myself a writer as opposed to a thinker.
Enjoyed the story? Support the Creator.
Subscribe for free to receive all their stories in your feed. You could also pledge your support or give them a one-off tip, letting them know you appreciate their work.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insight
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Comments (12)
Ugh, I know exactly how this feels. That moment of mourning, of incomprehensible sadness for the barely seen creature running as a shadow across the road before it's killed. You capture it perfectly.
A frozen moment capturing life, death, guilt, survival, and a whole myriad of complex emotions - brilliantly done Ashley!
🥹♥️This is so passionate 😉📝
That is so sad, but I know you didn't mean to. I can feel it in your words.
Sad. I have to avoid suicidal squirrels all the time. If I die young it will be because of that.... driving into a tree to save the life of a squirrel. Loved the philosophical nature of your poem 💙Anneliese
Poor possum 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 But yes, accidents happen 🥺
Sorry Ashley.. That is no fun at all ! Realistic recap! I’m really paranoid about hitting birds…
Oh no!!! That's overwhelming, I am sure. Like Donna said, there was nothigyu could do!!!😢💕
❤️ your empathy is admirable.
Sorry about that. My stepfather once ran over a skunk (odor lingered for days). Not so profound for us.
That’s such an awful feeling but there was nothing you could have done ❤️❤️
So sad. I’m glad you processed it through this great verse.