body

by

complicity…

another child
died
today
witnesses said
no one else
was on the bridge
as the body
sailed into
the afterlife
but
i tell you
the child
was pushed
by your hand
and mine
because
we
did not
reach out
to grasp
the fragile thread
of hope
that held
the child
to this world

by

autopsy…

examination
of the tissue sample
revealed
specialized groups
perhaps
best considered
independent
functional work groups
although part
of the larger body’s
governing system
their purpose
seemed
idiosyncratic
and
carcinogenic
in nature
there was
no communication
between the bipolar cells
that comprised the culture
further examination
yielded startling results
that the body
had only lived
a short while
before the disease
which had been in
remission
systematically
spread throughout
every fiber
replacing
the original
code
with a nonfunctional
replica
that
the body
was unable
to identify
as harmful
thus
democracy
died

 

by

full venom…

long before his morning coffee
they lay hidden
waiting for their prey
no movement
but full of venom
poised to strike
without warning
he moved outside
preparing for another day
tractor readied
he moved
the body bitten
with full force
fangs sunk deep into the flesh
breaking open the skin
the venom injected
his blood seized by this flash of pain
cascading through his body
into his heart
and
with those
words
she
walked
away

by

tag you’re it…

police report
2 am
body found
near highway overpass
struck by mini van
occupied by mother
and two teenage children
returning from sister’s
wedding rehearsal
cans of spray paint
located near site
obvious attempt
to desperately communicate
love
faith
affiliations
pain
above
the
noise of life
and the fear
of
continued
future
on
these streets
no charges
were made
at scene
warrant for
society’s arrest
was issued

by

initial crime scene report…

date
thursday 2/25/10
weather
clear warm temp at 70 f
arrived on scene at home office
location
somewhere short of sanity
a short frame structure with white trim
2 windows to the world situated
west side country miles from nowhere
summons
phone call from location by editor
witnesses
no eyewitness known.
body discovered at approx. 1445 hours by email carrier
victim
poet
dob
somewhat questionable
found lying face down at his computer
southwest or northeast orientation
appearance of heavy life wounds inflicted to top and left side of head area
evidence of numerous broken hearts
      world peace
      protection of the environment
      caring for others
extensive wounds to ego
the body is still warm to the touch.
victim appears to have been dead for a short time before discovery
victim is wearing white button down shirt with sleeves rolled to elbow
dried tears in eye area
top three buttons torn away
childlike
denim work pants
brown steel tipped work boots
boot soles and heels appear to be dirt encrusted
likely from the garden.
pants pockets are found turned out with no contents
likely from previous relationships
black cycling gloves
well worn and dirt encrusted
are found near the victim 
the victim appears to have been working on a poem.
measurements
see crime scene sketches
poet is found lying at computer near a bottle of wine and baguette
with a blank sheet of paper gripped in hand.
evidence collected
word shards scattered around room
split infinitives on table
half bottle of frene barbier mediterranean white wine
some leftover cheese
and a baguette
search of house
door to heart unlocked.
faith in progress screened in with door latched.
search of house shows evidence of robbery or vandalism
unorderly appearance
torn poems on the floor
shells of belief in various arrangements
a lingering smell of mothballed dreams
from living room bookshelf
a family photo album is taken into evidence
containing photographs labeled through some period of insanity
no additional evidence removed from house