Dodge

was just as we had slipped to sleep
and sheriffs all were out of town
a horse rode in without a sound
no rider on him down the street
he paused at every face he’d meet
his breath an unseen poison pollen
slow deadly mist on each one fallen
no place where anyone could run
that others weren’t all running from

it’s dreams like these leave lessons learned
their scars within us deeply burned
which when we wake are all still there
the way he slowly toward me turned
and fixed me in his deathly stare
left no escaping anywhere

2020