Something

Something occurred to her

                                           he could see it in her eyes

but she didnt say

so he waited patiently for its infection to become pronounced 

 

its swelling red and distended

and when she still didnt say

he asked

her eyes swelled with tears

she bit her tongue

                                                          then

she said as if her breath was evil

It occurred to me

Yes 

 

It has occurred to me

                                    a frightened policemans handgun

is now the noose people are lynched by in broad daylight

without snarling dogs or forsaken dark gatherings or cowardly drunken screamed encouragement

he took her in his arms  held her  and tried to absorb her trembling the violence that upended her and stole away
her legs so she couldnt run
                                                  and stomped her heart

Im sorry love

 

The more things change the more they stay the same

Its not appealing  or very compassionate

I am sorry

it wasnt his failure

Horror

              has no consolation

1954,  Friday,  14  8. 15