Shame

he held me by the throat
up near the glass
 
from which the clerk looked
but did not see  
me or he
in our grim hug  
that cold night with the gas pumps close
 
at least I hope he did not see
though in truth his head
was turned as if to not see
by choice
 
‘scared, no doubt’ said the cop
I raised this to
‘men ain’t knights these days’
he winked and I felt sick
 
he did see though
once the man had had my bag
and torn the left side
of my blouse and bra
to show the breast
 
he groped for it then fled
and I was left to trip and trace my way
to that glass box  
from which the clerk sold gas
ten to six each night
 
men ain’t knights
these days
and his sick face as he reached for the phone
made me feel less than a queen
 
him warm  
in his coat and cap
me in my torn blouse
with left breast cold and bruised
 
him kept by the glass
and me kept out
like the star of a creep’s peep show:
 
‘watch her shake and cry
see her one cold breast
men ain’t knights these days’