Blood Splatter In Red Sharp
© Surazeus
7 March 2007
Lansing, Michigan
Tarzan leaps from high tree to rescue
Jane bound by rope in mining camp
and her torn dress flaps in jungle wind
as he carries her safe swinging on vines.
Beth looks away from Tarzan cartoon
to stare at mother lying still on a couch
who covers her eyes with a scarred arm.
Mommy I want some peach ice cream.
But her mother grunts and never moves.
Crawling over to couch Beth lifts blanket
and stares at smooth shining silver metal
of her prosthetic foot that cannot feel
touch of fingers when she caresses steel.
Tell me what happened to your leg mom.
But mother groans and turns on her side.
Beth runs off to far side of living room
and hides behind curtain by bookshelf.
Bullets kick up dust and ping Humvee
so she hangs on tight to rifle and radio
as Joshua races narrow crowded streets
of Mosul through hail of banging bullets.
Brandy turns to shout at Sergeant Wells
how are we going to find Hajji snipers
then blinks when bullet splatters his brain
all over her face so she wipes away blood.
Blood splatter on window reminds me
of modern art paintings in a quiet museum.
I will name it Blood Splatter in Red Sharp.
Mom I want to take violin lessons again
Beth whispers touching long matted hair.
We used to paint together before you left
giggling as we smeared color on canvas.
If I twang your hair will it vibrate sweet
stretched taught on your pale violin skull.
Doorbell rings so she hangs her head low
bye mom I am going with Amina Aziz
to painting class so I will be back for supper.
Beth waves goodbye to ghost who smiles
in a photo dressed in sharp Army uniform.
Thirsty for water and needing to go pee
Brandy huddles on her cot in barracks
behind barbed wire in wild Mosul maze.
Gripping knife she creeps through hall
out tent door and across vast dark camp
past electric generators rumbling so loud.
Shadows lurking in gloom leap fast
so she swings knife to drive them back
but they grip her wrist twisting her arm
and force her face down in cold dust.
Her platoon buddies rip off her pants
so Brandy squeezes her eyes shut tight
gritting her teeth at sharp searing pain
as they take turns biting at her neck.
Sweating and fighting ghosts tangled
in quilt her children made for welcome
home Brandy falls thump on white carpet
then sits staring sticky-eyed at television.
Lilo and Stitch are chasing a blue demon
whose breath freezes everything to ice.
Beth where are you she calls in a voice
weak from paralysis of numbing fear
then lies down hiding her face to dream
about white pony and pink ribbon dress.
Taste of blood tingles her parched tongue
so she grips spear and rides stallion swift
thundering over oak-covered hills to hunt
men who kidnap girls from her village.
Slave trader cowers before her gold face
of fierce wrath and begs mercy for his life
spare me Valkyrie and I will pay in gold.
Gertrude daughter of Odin Gertwulf snarls
you buy and sell our women and children
and for this crime against justice you die.
Brandy snaps awake at memory of her hand
thrusting spear deep in his heart with a twist.
Lurching to walk on steel and flesh legs
she hobbles to kitchen and drinks cold water
staring at red butterflies in garden of herbs.
© Surazeus
7 March 2007
Lansing, Michigan
Tarzan leaps from high tree to rescue
Jane bound by rope in mining camp
and her torn dress flaps in jungle wind
as he carries her safe swinging on vines.
Beth looks away from Tarzan cartoon
to stare at mother lying still on a couch
who covers her eyes with a scarred arm.
Mommy I want some peach ice cream.
But her mother grunts and never moves.
Crawling over to couch Beth lifts blanket
and stares at smooth shining silver metal
of her prosthetic foot that cannot feel
touch of fingers when she caresses steel.
Tell me what happened to your leg mom.
But mother groans and turns on her side.
Beth runs off to far side of living room
and hides behind curtain by bookshelf.
Bullets kick up dust and ping Humvee
so she hangs on tight to rifle and radio
as Joshua races narrow crowded streets
of Mosul through hail of banging bullets.
Brandy turns to shout at Sergeant Wells
how are we going to find Hajji snipers
then blinks when bullet splatters his brain
all over her face so she wipes away blood.
Blood splatter on window reminds me
of modern art paintings in a quiet museum.
I will name it Blood Splatter in Red Sharp.
Mom I want to take violin lessons again
Beth whispers touching long matted hair.
We used to paint together before you left
giggling as we smeared color on canvas.
If I twang your hair will it vibrate sweet
stretched taught on your pale violin skull.
Doorbell rings so she hangs her head low
bye mom I am going with Amina Aziz
to painting class so I will be back for supper.
Beth waves goodbye to ghost who smiles
in a photo dressed in sharp Army uniform.
Thirsty for water and needing to go pee
Brandy huddles on her cot in barracks
behind barbed wire in wild Mosul maze.
Gripping knife she creeps through hall
out tent door and across vast dark camp
past electric generators rumbling so loud.
Shadows lurking in gloom leap fast
so she swings knife to drive them back
but they grip her wrist twisting her arm
and force her face down in cold dust.
Her platoon buddies rip off her pants
so Brandy squeezes her eyes shut tight
gritting her teeth at sharp searing pain
as they take turns biting at her neck.
Sweating and fighting ghosts tangled
in quilt her children made for welcome
home Brandy falls thump on white carpet
then sits staring sticky-eyed at television.
Lilo and Stitch are chasing a blue demon
whose breath freezes everything to ice.
Beth where are you she calls in a voice
weak from paralysis of numbing fear
then lies down hiding her face to dream
about white pony and pink ribbon dress.
Taste of blood tingles her parched tongue
so she grips spear and rides stallion swift
thundering over oak-covered hills to hunt
men who kidnap girls from her village.
Slave trader cowers before her gold face
of fierce wrath and begs mercy for his life
spare me Valkyrie and I will pay in gold.
Gertrude daughter of Odin Gertwulf snarls
you buy and sell our women and children
and for this crime against justice you die.
Brandy snaps awake at memory of her hand
thrusting spear deep in his heart with a twist.
Lurching to walk on steel and flesh legs
she hobbles to kitchen and drinks cold water
staring at red butterflies in garden of herbs.
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