Sunday, September 21, 2014

90-proof angels

photo: ralph murre


90-proof angels
by t. kilgore splake

     child’s tiny fingers letting go,

     bottles smashing against concrete sidewalk squares,
shiny glass shards flying,

     hard vacant stare, taut sun-bronzed skin,
rigid “don’t hurt” posture,

     angels falling to earth early this sunday
morning, wings shattering,

     absent for saving other, pious church-going
masses,

     smug narrow personas, already so damn sure.


~ previously published in winter river flowing (Presa Press)