Hollie McNish -Embarrased
blunt nailed waitress peered
out of window,
watching a white Ford side step
move through a channel
of fading snow,
engine abrupt in the silence
crawling on wet tires
behind the wheel
eyes filled with cluster of stars
that waited for him,
knew he would use rifle and pistols
lain on the passenger seat,
an older man ducked in through
a door from the sidewalk
anticipation filled centuries bones,
oak casket shadows lengthened
over street,
as to traffic signals and crossroads
paused muffler rumbling,
a man stepped out a short distance
ahead and raised a rifle
sounding with a quick report,
windshield shattered
ducking across seats,
other men appeared
bullets clattered and punctured metal
crawled out the door
and as a shield returned fire,
blunt nailed waitress
placed hand on stomach
with a soft flutter,
from the roof of the bank
rifle leveled
became a victim tumbling to asphalt
with rifle expended
took up the guns his grandfather wore,
tightening belt
histories confidence made him stand,
before drawing
bullet clipped his shoulder
wincing not falling
fanned the gun,
two others fell,
a voice shrieked stop
blunt nailed waitress
stood between them,
gunsmoke scented cold air,
it had to be resolved
but not this way,
for the sake of a child
conversation was born
in open eyed sleep
those bridges have no span
as night follows the curve
spreading darkness
and moons quarter glow,
fox on bed of rotting
fall leaves unblinking
wanting for a lonely prey,
whales ceaseless extend
range across oceans
that have many liquid paths,
and the infant
at the bars of it’s cot
red eye tired
holding on waiting
with some trepidation
as scissors of day cut slits
letting light seep through,
new light new day
streams winter refreshed
grass becomes unbowed
no longer submissive,
it smells different
under blanket of darkness
a transformation
of renewal
of procreation
the urge to replace winter fallen,
infant releases bars
sitting back
it’s face acknowledges
what this morning
has brought