he took his own life

“Death will come for all of us but let us fight to live.”
—Jamie Tworkowski, If You Feel Too Much

i.
the bullets rang out,
piercing the night,
commingling each shout
with gashing light;
the children were hushed
against the plight,
paraded and pushed
into blind flight.

ii.
unable to flee,
the blind boy stood,
wishing he could see
some trifling good.
the two sides were armed
with weaponry,
the rivals alarmed
by bigotry.

iii.
all reason was gone:
no gallantry;
right into the dawn
their effrontery.
the rage in their eyes,
a scarlet sea;
tempers quickly rise,
vile synchrony.

iv.
no evident space
for safe escape,
the boy hid his face
against the rape.
he took his own life
into his hands,
and scampered like hell
to save his glans.

© Copyright 2023 April 23
by Clyve A. Bowen♫