No.36
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Girl with one eye closed, running
purple-black, the other streaming
barefoot, bloodied, silent screaming
hands together as if praying
flags a car that comes, now slowing,
begs the man to take her home.
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Driver sees the wires binding
wrist-gouged cutting deep, she’s bleeding
no-one else comes by, he’s thinking
leaves her hands bound now, scheming,
ignores her prayers, high-pitched screaming,
drags her in and takes her home.
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Girl with both eyes closed is singing,
blackened, bruised, she hangs now swinging
hands together as if diving
up towards his basement ceiling
scissor-cut, her clothes are falling
prays to God he’ll let her go.
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Man with sweating hands is praying
sits with wife and children, dining
while underfoot a girl is twitching
on a rope, blinded and gagging,
Say no to pie, from table rising,
begs his wife to let him go.
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Wife sees how her husband’s flushing,
To his dungeon how he’s hastening
Reprimands the children, fighting,
Eat your greens! That noise is nothing
Now clear the table, I must get scrubbing!
Time for bed, so off you go!
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No.36
Erik Kaisson, 2017