Repercussions
09 June 2021 Wednesday Prose Poem: social consequences
Sideways to a love, sideways parallel to world direction, swerve through nerve-induced sweat storm — the baby you bought, that you carry with you, backpack and all, that carriage long broken long drought from doctor’s spying — engrossed in the literature of the street
A learning to read of the opposite sort — understanding…doesn’t figure — figures in the nature of the fight — hand to flesh here and then like that open slice collide — the bruise on the grey and the bruise in the head of victim passing aggressor —
Storing reasons for distance, for particular closeness — this is all in the name of survival — hoisted, helped to car, to small room — the screaming through the skull-thick iron and the drying tiles of blood bleach vomit from emptied walls — the chrome on insuring comfort —
Hidden by blankets — divorced from the scene — experiencing the poverty of this firsthand —
J.D. Harms 2021
Prompt:
While I can’t go into great detail about the inspiration for this piece (confidentiality), I can say that stories I’ve heard on the streets, some of my own personal experiences living in downtown Winnipeg…cut at my heart. I still think it’s a tragedy of enormous proportion how many…
