As If
By Brooks
in her sixth year cabbage palms and knife fights replaced long bike rides and the neighbor's gift of fresh baked cookies this small foreigner wanted only to go home where breathing never had to be thought about safety never discussed in the night two large men with knife and fist bound the pillow so tight over her face she was breathless from terror gasping and choking like delicate parchment paper ripped across rough boards she worried her shredded self would be scattered across her new summer sheets her body stayed together only her six year-old heart was lost hours later she brushed her small teeth already pretending not even hinting shame had bullied its way into that sweet place they killed while she was breathless
©2002 Brooks