Bloody Kitchen Knife

Bloody Kitchen Knife
© Surazeus
2023 11 26

The way noon sunlight gleams in dirt-stained window 
conceals strange sorrow of afternoon trees 
who wait in sprinkling rain for gold headlights 
of passing cars to scream so silently 
only cats pause in bushes to attend 
how doors slam and shoes clack sidewalks in fear. 

Each time glass door of the corner food store 
opens wide enough for hope to escape, 
old rusty bell, forged in Romanian town 
in deep river gorge of ghosts, rings with joy 
that someone has evaded death again, 
as if photos on walls reveal our souls. 

The white plate that falls from her trembling hand 
in shocked surprise at arrival of rage 
explores dimensions of our universe 
not mapped by theories of sharp scientists 
at fragmentation of the puzzling mind 
when shards of truth reveal the pain we feel. 

Loud rumble of the passing train disturbs 
tranquil ambience of her convivial mood 
when candle flame is fluffed by sudden breeze 
so she grips kitchen knife with fierce intent 
to defend her young son from haughty pride, 
then stabs him in the stomach with sharp cry. 

With ominous flash of red and blue lights 
that illuminate spreading pool of blood 
she lurches from paralysis of fear 
to stumble on bridge of forgetfulness, 
and stares at black waters of River Styx 
that lure her to flee to the Underworld. 

Young boy in cowboy boots with rocket ship 
explains to the policeman with steel eyes 
that his father punched his mom in the face 
and threatened to kill them all with the gun 
so she stabbed him, then ran into the rain, 
then drinks hot chocolate with confident frown. 

White wolf with red eyes of courageous faith 
emerges from shadow of spooky woods, 
and returns fierce gaze of the dauntless angel 
who stabs bloody kitchen knife in the oak 
then washes her face in the River Styx 
till her skin glistens white as the full moon. 

With blithe defiance of authority, 
Angela returns to corner food store 
where she embraces Brian to her breast, 
then thanks the policemen with shining eyes 
as the ambulance takes Robert away, 
then fries pancakes for her young son to eat.