arrowhead
you’re used to seeing it, you know
people killing each other one the streets
all of my friends carry guns
i started carrying knives when i was eight
the blade looked like an arrowhead
and the t-shaped handle
fit between the knuckles in my palm
i was tough for a girl, i guess
i’ve only killed one person
it was when i was fourteen
there’s one mad rush of panic
then you just finish the job
and run like hell
that’s why i’m in this house, you see
they couldn’t put me in jail
they’ve taught me a lot here
at first
i didn’t want to get away from it all
from the violence
it was what i knew
it was what i expected
and then
someone killed my sister
and i knew what they were all
talking about
i missed her
suddenly i knew
i made someone else
feel that
i learned
what guilt and remorse were
and ever since
i’ve wanted to get out
Copyright Janet Kuypers.
All rights reserved. No material
may be reprinted without express permission.
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