Vices

Shoot off at the mouth 
   of jilted rivers
Rifle through a magazine 
   or two
Set the blame
   Pull the trigger
they’re expecting
   the unborn bullet

Caper’s almost done
   frame’s in place,
	 blanked face’s
   in the middle
broken glass and 
      people surround
	 the shattered window
It went one way-
   Bullet went the other

Smoke screen’s left
   to cover your façade
the barren wasteland

Who had the right?

The chamber’s empty now no
   one to frame
   but yourself

Another’s fading fast
   Third never had a chance-


~Julie Harwood