Title: Bernie Lost His Mind

Fandom: Crime Zone (YouTube), Episode Title “Secrets, Lies & MURDER...At Toys R Us???”

Rating: T

Length: 104 words

Notes: This is based on real events. I was moved by watching this particular episode. A good man, Larry Wells, died, but his killer was a desperate man who had forgotten his way. This poem does not in any way excuse Bernie’s actions. It is merely a response to how the story was told by Crime Zone.

Summary: A villanelle about Bernie Grucza who serving 25 years for manslaughter.

Bernie lost his mind that day,

Wife dying of cancer, no money,

He had debts to pay,

Bernie forgot the way,

He could only see his dying honey,

Bernie lost his mind that day,

Bernie lost his say,

Cancer doesn’t listen, it ain’t funny,

He had debts to pay,

Bernie lost the way,

Debts piling up like bunnies,

Bernie lost his mind that day,

Bernie forgot to pray,

Wife in pain, though outside it’s sunny,

He had debts to pay,

Bernie killed a good man today,

Paying time for stolen life, not money,

Bernie lost his mind that day,

He had debts to pay