I Saw

by Lemuel Gary
Third Prize, Poetry
I saw
that his
broken crucifix
was lain atop his forehead cold
boldly smoldering in a pile of greenish silver...
    and his arms were spread wider than archangels wings
...feet pointed towards the gloom
a swollen December moon
        our little brother...
Raheem.
His dreams are now dead.
Slipping away with the bullets
James peered over his Park Terrace roof
and wondered when last he slept
without murder
Beneath the Friendship bench
red streaks’ve burned black.
        his
dried blood
thins
with
the sirens
        too late to much
matter
        or send
the Cold City
back into Her fog
It creeps
heavier than hearts
and older...
through the Slotta House--
        the Southside’s
broken stop signs
mean
nothing.
We...
from Lowe Street
Are
starving
to death
to see
our peace
   to eat
and
be

Alive.

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© 2013 Fresno City College—The Review / Ram's Tale is a publication of student writing and artwork from the Humanities and Fine, Performing and Communication Arts Divisions at Fresno City College. Authors retain all rights to their work.