hed seen something like it before
grown in an empty trash-strewn
parcel of barbedwire-trussed land
at its dead center
one limb in a lazy arc high above the rest of the bare tree
etched black
upraised against the
purple morning sky
he exited the highway
doubled back on a rotting concrete
frontage road
and parked on the gravel
directly
across from the tree
broken pints sparkling distinct from the stones
on its cruddy shoulder
he swung the door open and stood
outside the car
leaning on its hood
glaring at the tree
so familiar
but where
there was a black man beaten laying bleeding in
the dirt
at the dead center of a gang of white men who jeered him
he was broken
his breathing labored
bloody spittle hanging from
his split lips
he didnt move
a bullish-looking man entered the
circle
a whip in hand
he dragged it in the dirt behind him
he kicked the black man in the ribs
who gasped from the blow
I came up on the backs of the circled
men
Nigger the bull cried
the gathered men laughed
spat gobs of tobacco on the negro
laughed ugly
laughed ugly
without pity
You hear me nigger Im talking to you You hear me nigger
he snapped the braided leather
it hung momentarily
in a lazy arc in the hot white air
in a lazy arc in the hot white air
he brought the whip down across
the negros back
his shirt split open where the lash
struck
the gang laughed
bottles tipped back
the whip snarled again and again
the negro crying and twisting under its strokes
I broke into the circle
and grabbed the
tail of the whip as the bull tried to stroke it again
my grasp restrained him
a bottle broke against the back of my
head
I heard Nigger lover
I sunk to my knees
but twisted a wrap of bloodiedwet leather
around my wrist
a foot stomped my hand
it broke my fingers crabbed
a foot stomped it again
Nigger lover
the whip unwound slithered from my mangled grip
I was pitched bodily against the negro
the air cried as the whip came down across my face
my cheek split
I passed out
I came to under the splash of a bucket
of urine
a hemp rope was yanked over my head
cinched at my throat
it was dark now
Ya gonna dance with the nigger friend
Ya know how niggers love ta dance
they hung me beside the negro
I kicked at the end of the rope
I kicked him
he hung heavy twitching
I kicked
I danced
I flailed at the rope with my hands
my wrists were broken
I choked ragged
I shook
I died
I stared at that stark tree
at the dead center of the vacant lot
I lurched from my car
fell onto my knees
and vomited
breathing easier
I oozed back into the car
and wiped my face and mouth with my
dusty handkerchief
looking into the rearview mirror I saw a rope at my throat
then it faded
and as it faded
I sobbed
I sobbed for who I had been
and for the black man
1444, Friday,
6 1. 12
