22

A strange justice prevailed in Costaguana
like the 4-way iron needle on the Courthouse clock
in Providence     pointing forever to high noon
because it's broke
like the industrious neatness of the piranha
or proverbial goodness     evinced by the monsoon
or divine palm oil (grouse or manna)
a strange justice prevailed in Costaguana.

He hung there     anchored to a beam     and shot
guy wrong place wrong time     wheedling leather merchant
scum     rot     animal, to be blunt

Take him down & keep him     he's your boob
like a toothpick in the lip of a gentle scribe
pursed with reddening petals     3, 2, 1...     Atone.



Henry Gould | Island Road 23
Contents | Mudlark No. 6