Unseen Devil Wings

Unseen Devil Wings
© Surazeus
2025 06 13

To muddle through dim glimmer of the day 
Paul drinks black coffee of attentive caution 
from cracked porcelain cup of her frail heart 
while caressing glass of the photograph 
that shows Mary smiling in her rose garden 
so many years ago that he lost count. 

The black-crowned night heron with scarlet eyes, 
perched on the picket fence of his front lawn, 
declares with soft apocalyptic voice 
fall of the empire with quiet disdain 
that crumbles so slowly day after day 
he hardly notices now anymore. 

Beneath the willow tree with glowing leaves, 
that died and was cut down twelve years ago, 
they picnicked every Sunday afternoon 
for thirty years, eating pears, cheese, and wine, 
just like the ditty from the Rubaiyat, 
but thou art gone now to the great beyond. 

With satisfaction of the soaring plane, 
he piloted across the swirling clouds 
twenty years between Seattle and San Diego, 
Paul strolls the dew-wet lawn with cold bare feet 
to savor sensuous vibrance of the Earth 
in his daily commune with Mother Nature. 

When three black vans with unseen devil wings 
appear before the well-kept house next door, 
where Pablo Flores with his wife and kids 
have lived for forty years of honest work, 
Paul hurries over with surprised concern 
as masked men beat the door with rifle butts. 

"My best friend Pablo and his wife Maria," 
Paul shouts and stands between them and the door, 
"have lived here in this town since they were born 
where Pablo is accountant at the bank 
while Maria teaches at the high school, 
so leave, for they are citizens I respect." 

The masked immigration officer snarls 
and slams the old man face-down on the ground, 
handcuffing his frail hands with harsh contempt, 
so Paul shouts as he watches helplessly 
while Pablo, Maria, Carlos, Consuela, 
and Sofia are dragged into black vans. 

Left alone still handcuffed on the wet grass 
after masked thugs kidnap his honest neighbors, 
Paul stares at the heron with scarlet eyes, 
and cries with sorrow at the memory 
of barbecues while watching soccer games 
with cheerful Pablo and his family.