The challenge is to write a poem in the voice of a fictional character. It can be any character you like, and you can introduce it in your own voice if you choose (à la Coleridge, though I certainly wouldn’t insist on this) but the main body of the poem must be in the voice of your character.
Life Interrupted
It was hoped-expected- that sons out-live their fathers .
The flashing red lights blinked a desperate scene;
A medic kneeling with trembling hands beside a victim.
On the lawn, lay a young man unresponsive, serene.
“Narcan administered. Checking for the pulse.”
A tsunami of regrets dripping from my chin,
“Danny, wake up! Do it now! It’s Dad.”
I must be professional… panic must not win.
“When had Danny given up?” my brain implored.
“My fault? My fault!” a guardian guilt searched.
A young man gurgled a faint response… one cough.
“Got a pulse!” and the body insulted- disturbed- lurched.
“He’s back.” hands wiping tears, “I’m ready.”
Our chance, a grace of future, better choices.
We lifted the stretcher with my boy, my lucky son,
This out-of-body witness to cataclysmic voices.
Could I muffle the drumbeat defiling manhood,
Unnatural messages invading the viable you?
I would sweep them from a culture proposing
Your value has a color, and shame, this I’d undo!
Good folks, yes many, hold wreckage from nihilism.
Ravaged nests with too many ghosts of innocent ones.
” You’re okay, Dan Man.” the strong, crumbling, EMT whispers,
All fathers refuse to out-live their sons.
If you’d enjoy reading what some excellent poets created from the prompt, click the link immediately below.
https://www.blenza.com/linkies/links.php?owner=dversepoets&postid=02May2021&meme=12476
Poetics: Exploring the Narrative Voice | dVerse (dversepoets.com)
Sillyfrog's Blog 
So beautiful, heartbreaking, and strong all in one. Just wow.
Thank-you! The scene was so vivid in my head.
Wow is always a welcomed response. It was an interesting prompt that stirred those images. Thanks!
This is a beautiful write … hitting home for me. I watched my son fading away in the ER in 2018 ~ septic shock which is a death sentence for most . They brought him back ~~~ I vividly recall thinking ‘is this the way I am going to say goodbye to my boy’ … Life is so horribly unpredictable.
Oh my. Your heart must have been in tatters. Thank you for sharing and commenting!
Oh, thank goodness you brought Dan back from the brink! A thoughtful and adrenaline-filled response to the prompt. I love this line of redemption:
‘Our chance, a grace of future, better choices.’
Much appreciated. I don’t think it fits the prompt exactly. I found it difficult but very interesting.
You made a beautiful, emotional poem there. I love the idea of poems in character. Well done.
It was an interesting prompt, Mason. My own translation of what it asked. Thanks!
For sure. never even thought of doing poetry from the point of my characters.
This powerful write packs a punch. It is good that father and son have been given an opportunity to build a stronger bond. Good stuff!
Second chances are divine. Much appreciated!
Powerful, Susan. Beautifully portrayal of a father’s agony and his joy.
Thank you, Dora. I appreciate your analysis very much. ❤
as a father this broke my heart! truly powerful
Thank-you for your very personal response and the sharing of your reaction! Much appreciated.
👍
I love that happy ending, but the intensity of the scene made me be on the edge till the end, but maybe the end is just another beginning trying to overcome his addiction.
Sometimes close calls wake us up. We can only hope that more of these stories end happily. Thanks! 🙂
Excellent use of quoted speech in this narrative poem. Vivid and poignant.
Thank you for your kind comments!
All the feels reading this! The strong emotion comes through with the narration which adds to the suspense for how it will end. Enjoyed it!
I pleased it worked as I had intended. We never know if we’ll be successful when we write! I’m smiling!
💖
This is incredibly poignant! I must confess I was on the edge of my seat till the very end.
Wonderful! Thanks! 😊
Excellent Susan, so well written!
Thanks very much, Rob!
So powerful and heartfelt. 💙 I can’t imagine the pain of the father (or son), but I hope this will be a second chance for both of them.
Second chances are wonderful! Me too.
😀