Oppressive winds carried among the nightfall sky
aloneness dried the atmosphere
infection slips in windows
romantic thinking numbers sleep time
Henry vanished before military return
his satchel keeping love letters
photographs that presented wounds
but his march was a necessity
Power from simple handguns land on mission's soil
tunnels presented dead grunts from the high rising fire
a week after his love brought her life

Children often remember Kelley
killing stress with magazines, empty men and brandy shots
her ******* pounded for days
but her heart was fatigue
that cross patted her neck which carried black mysteries
lips that presented silence
a beloved brown made up new most days

Guys often kissed her squeezing out security
dangerous men fancied her
some laughed like they understood
said they would fill their hats of other "working" women making new found glory through washed up love

She said my handgun holds power presented at my feet:
one shot to feel the dead
that shot remembered every night before bed