Durham in Wonderland
The night before it snowed
two men were killed
and several others shot
for reasons not yet known.
And the city awoke
to southern streets
Kissed
with cold complexities.
That fall unique
and quickly melt
into puddles of
nuisance
Sludge and mud
to be scraped
off boots
before entering the house.
In the morning
a thin shroud
Blankets
this small town.
With an innocence
Undeserved
yet offered
all the same.
The addicts and the elderly
the pushers and professors
Watch from the window
and Witness
An ephemeral absolution.
Beautiful. Poignant.
Glad that I just happened to click on your blog link at the bottom of your email. I really enjoy your wordcraft.
“with an innocence undeserved, yet offered all the same.”
Lovely, Erin. Makes me think of Martin Espada!