Johnny: A man who was let go

Johnny was a good man
Who worked hard
Cared for his family
Who respected people
And all those he came to know

Johnny went to work one day
In his usual suit
Pressed hard against his chest
And below

Johnny said: ‘Morning…how’s going boss?’
He’s said: ‘Good Johnny…but there is
Something you should know
Things aren’t too good at the moment
Best packing up your things
We’re going to let you go.”

Johnny returned home that night
Upset, no glow
His wife was shocked and worried
Johnny said: “All will be fine…
Things will turn out for best…I know”

Autumn and winter passed quickly
For Johnny that year
He came home late one night,
Tired from looking for work all day
Yet glad to be in his family abode

He knocked quietly on his bedroom door
That night to warn his wife
Yet he found his wife
In bed with another man
She said: “Johnny I think its best
You pack up bags…and go.”

Johnny left that night
With all but nothing
And walked into the night
All by himself, all alone

As I walked home one night
Along the crowded streets
I passed Johnny
A bearded and hunched backed man
Who trudged along the street
Where people avoided him
Not smiling or saying ‘hello’

I remember that night well though
People eating big bowls of pasta
Drinking rich cappuccinos
Sharing drinks with mates

Not caring about life at all
Because you only get one chance
In life…you know?

Johnny didn’t care though
He had enough troubles of his own
For anyone to care
Above him or below

So as the crossing lights turned red
Johnny stepped out onto the road
Where a car ran over a dog it seemed
It was Johnny though
A man no-one cared about
A man no wanted to know

Sunrise broke over Melbourne
People over the city woke up
Crawled out of bed, washed their faces
And got ready for the day ahead
Yet so little did they know

Johnny’s wife woke up her kids,
“School-time, get ready…let’s go.
Your father will be home soon
He is a strong and healthy man
That you kids surely know.

Johnny lay in a hospital
Bed that morning
No one cared
Who would know?

See Johnny was let go of
Far too many times
For anyone to help him
For someone to give him
Another go.

I walked home that night
Thinking about that man I’d passed
Even though him I did not know
I ask all of you, though,
Say: You had a friend, brother or uncle,
Like Johnny
Who had been through bad times?

Would you invite him to a party?
Take him out for a coffee?
Or ask him to your house,
To make him feel better?

Or would you let him go
Like he did that night
Where he had no other choice
But to let himself go?

Peter Najjar, June 2006