Hazelwood Massacre

(Detroit, 1968)

 

Temptation walk into death

beyond loaded sunsets

below trap doors to rise

from oblivion’s red teeth.

Fifteen & bodacious,

 

Cavalier enterprise; coaxed

between crosshairs, close enough

to belch blood in Technicolor

sniff the high octane of gunfire

pumped through a silencer.

 

Seventy-two hours

& a penchant for Johnny Carson

got me carryin’ a coffin

‘stead of draped in one.

Sixty-four pallbearers

epitaphs for eight headstones,

shells louder than shots.

 

Mrs. Hornsworthy say

“a drug dealer looks best

all stiff & dressed up.”

Piety ferments, her beloved 4^th

thumps his vein.

 

Happenstance microscopes a moment:

De’twa sleeps like bats.

A cashier’s food stamps

tucked in her C-cup,

trigger-punched.

 

Wilbur Grant’s last load clings

to Downy’s gray static

in a dryer at Fresh ‘N Clean’s.

 

The Willabee’s new Motorola’s gone

stub 94327, The Swap Shop’s gain.

Pawn ticket stashed

in lone son’s hip pocket

sorrow distills their filial rage.

 

The Mackinaw twins

divide five siblings

& spar over wardrobe

that’s to die for,

black diamond mink

defaced for spite.

 

Prayers go up; grandparents

share grief, raise grandchildren

chain them to a cross.

A whole chicken thaws

in Grace Willard’s kitchen sink

while “Smitty” Hobbs alarm

keeps on ringing

‘til the Duracell dies.

 

Glare sifts through Venetian sleep,

fleeting glimpse of pseudo-blue

dripping pin-drop murder

badged in serve & protect,

“thought they were real cops.”

 

A woman escapes,

2^nd story leap

synchronized

by her bladder.

 

Bodies collapsed into halos,

secrets caked

in corners of mouths.

 

Feet vanish

from sixteen shoes

tied up in misfortune.

 

I lie in peace

under Motor City moonlight

& Momma’s Mississippi curfew.

Liberty’s Left Hand

 

It’s the eve of prosperity’s hiatus

Wolves in dark suits

Circle in search

Of an open sore

 

Shadows with shovels

Congregate

Death swaggers in

And opens a tab

 

Guiltless as sunrise

Bedfellows in exile

Emerge with new demands

Background noise gains on us all

 

Air quality on a hill

Stifles the Oval

A two hundred year old woman

Expires at the pump

 

Greif stricken children

Bearing flowers detonate

Moonlight screeches

To a giant stop!

 

 

 

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