Stood between a giant and a child
bruised by fists with a blue line striped
across his nose like a toothy kiss. Trying my best
to protect a city boy
from the ones I love with conflict rushing
through my mind like a plastic
drainpipe
after a storm. I imagined if it were you
being pulled by your arms
toward the road across the ground.
I'm sorry I ripped
your jacket when I dragged you off him
but I was and still am sure
that it would have been harder
to love you if you'd killed a man.