click ...

click ... click she stirs from sleep click click she raises her body props herself on one elbow click turns her head first one way and then the other click click pulls herself from the bed and listens more carefully click the window click click yes the window click she carefully bends the blind and peers into the dark click click there there by the street light a shadow more than a shadow a man cursing at a long barrelled rifle click he is struggling to seat the killing bullet in the chamber click click she watches and wonders why he is there on a public sidewalk in the middle of the night click she lifts the blind higher to see what might be his target click click again failure and just as he seems to be ready to give up he slams something shut turns to face her widening eyes and fires Copyright © Kennedy James, 2013. All rights reserved.

if you love me ...

if you love me ... if you love me say the words and touch my face with a soft finger that trails down from my forehead to my lips and please do not say "Shhh" do not tuck me into your neck and whisper vaguely all the vague words that lovers who have no more love for one another use to console the moment of imminent separation if you love me say the words pour them into my heart and write for me a future of joy everlasting and please do not turn your eyes away when you guess i am composing a vow of everlasting love for you do not end what hope has begun with a sweeping turn of casual disregard if you love me say the words and make reassurance something real and certain something to hang on to and please do not leave me here alone dried up and pinned to the wall with a nail through each painful palm do not leave me suspended to suffer a night of silent anguish wondering where we fell out and how i mistook love for love Copyright © Kennedy James, 2013. All rights reserved.