Past & Future Tense

Hung in
the Past
left to rot,
drip

from a tree

Stillborn
time
and again
into the present

lies,
both
big and
little

wind softly
tearing at
the naked
branches

the rope
tightly wound,
coiled &
expertly knotted

wet patch of soil
tall weeds
will grow again
taunting the

famished

Truth
Large and
Small.
spinning,

heavy and
slow

(study for the
ending of a
short
story)

Shot Dead; Thanksgiving Day

Guy gets on my bus:
"I saw an old man shot
to death on Thanksgiving day"
he says.

I just looked at him.

Then he says,
"I hate Detroit"
Still looking at him;
then he says,

"I'm from Miami."
"Florida".
Like I couldn't
tell.

Couldn't tell he was from Florida.

And like, I didn't know
Miami
is in Florida.

*****************
(Based on the works and style of Raymond Carver)