driving by the new high school
forever frozen in time
a moment of heart-break
sat a little girl, five or six years old
narrow face, hair neatly braided in rows
slender legs splayed on the grass of the sidewalk strip.
baby in carrier, mother out of car
flashing blue lights, handcuffs on the man
who might be her father
her gaze out of time
inwardly protecting her heart
yet totally naked
her being entirely alone
silencing the roar of traffic made distant
man in the uniform taking away the dignity
the freedom of the man who might be her father
taking away the integrity of her family
taking away the story of her life until now
in that single moment her life and heart broken
I saw this glimpse, a stranger to her
I saw from the outside a moment
which would forever transform her heart
I wished I could protect her, hold her
She lived that moment alone
the police officer not thinking to shield her
sadly thinking, why is he not protecting her innocence?
moments of experience are the meat and dark fruit of life
if a life has any meaning at all
it is in the living, in the pain
fruit smashed on the sidewalk
broken open,
exposing flesh and seeds
to the oxidizing air,
engraving living into being
adamevenevenadam 