Photography © Glenn Bowie

 

4 Ways with String

A boy lit a match and noticed
the glint like a fallen star
in the tree line—
a sighting—
The miracle of ages come
to the bombed out street.
He dropped to his knees
in prayer as his mother taught him.
Alas, no miracle—
a rifle butt glinting
pushed through the spruces
clutching their meal of heavy snow.
Solider attached to the gun
stepped out and fired into an old man—
just a moment before bent under
the weight of his parcel; small
wrapped in brown paper
tied for protection 4 ways with string.
I will be next
pounded the boy’s mind.
The food truck was well hidden
under an arch
a few streets behind the crumpled bloc.

 

Susan Isla Tepper is a twenty-year writer and the author of 12 published books of fiction and poetry and 2 stage plays. Her satirical Novel concerning the pandemic is titled Office and was just released by Wilderness House Press. She also previewed her play The Crooked Heart concerning artist Jackson Pollock, in his later years, at the Irish Repertory Theatre in NYC on October 25, 2022.

Glenn Bowie is a published poet, lyricist, and photographer from the Boston area. He also owns and operates an elevator company that supplies custom-built elevators for clients from New England to Hollywood. Author of two poetry and photograph collections (Under the Weight of Whispers and Into the Thorns and Honey) on Big Table Publishing, he donates all profits from his books to various charities for the homeless and local animal shelters.