I took a life today.
I fantasized all summer about
Killing.

I took my anger
My rage
Beat out the life and
Breath.

As I rolled the corpse
I saw a stump
A squirrel
With three legs.

It was
Me
Broken
Trapped
Beaten.

It curled up
Peaceful as it fell
Off the shovel
Into the black
Of the garbage can.

Bitter cold hands
Numb from killing
Holding a cigarette.

No sun
Only gray
And dying
Today.

Jared Ray Mackey