Sunday, May 4, 2008

Warrenville (#9)

Warrenville by night,
huddled hills,
thick-spread dark.
the wind reveals the trees
by turning the leaves
belly-up.

summer storm rattles windows
with the bloat of thunder,
the startled shriek
of lightning.
stray cats leap from the shadows
& quiver under porches,
eyes mad
in their tiny skulls.

inside, covers scrunched to chins
children eye their closets
for any sign of movement
within -

the churchbell.
the hiss & chug of the train
messily bisecting the town.

a gun goes off, but
it is camouflaged by the storm.
the aura of powder hangs
like an incrimination,
mutely accusatory.

have faith, cries the preacher
every Sunday.
they murmur & clasp hands
against all their respective ghosts,
go home & strangle their wives
with silence

No comments: