by D.A. Simants
i saw a bullet wound today
aurora, colorado - home of james holmes, grave of elijah mcclain
a blue jeep drove through the crowd, attempted homicide
(i knew it was blue. people said it was green but i knew)
a protester shot at the wheels, hitting another protester by accident
i ran forward and joined the line
hold the line, hold the line
no, don’t hold the line, abandon the highway
we’re in danger
a man is lying in the median grass, surrounded by amateur medics
why are these children wearing duct tape red crosses
i look over their shoulder
blood red tear, blank white bandages
i don’t remember his face
i didn’t look at his face
i saw a bullet wound today
we regathered in a random street off the highway
someone hugged me
we marched on, chanting
slow down, tighten up
slow down, tighten up
slow down, tighten up
so no one would be left behind
About the Author
D.A. Simants is an author and poet from Aurora, Colorado. They've previously published a novel, Mostly Melancholy, and a poetry book, 69 Impossible Things to Never, Ever Do. Their shorter works have appeared in Dragon Poetry Review, Awakened Voices, The Lindenwood Review, and Seven CirclePress.
