back

o

Love Surrenders on Assault Charge

                              headline in the local paper
                                                                           Carolyn Ogburn & Margo Solod
 
broken, finally
the silver throat opening -
spilling mercury
 
an empty hand, closed,
becomes a weapon, even
love mourns a slashed throat
 
without surrender,
even smoke will not carry
the throat's breath away
 
breath wanders the night,
stops strangers, deliverymen,
finds only blank stares
 
through the black narrows
you stagger, concrete rises
gathering you in
 
no deliverance
empty doorways accuse you  . . .
how could you do it?