Cheryl Townsend
EMINENT DOMAIN
In this heat
this heat of anger and jungle
tears cliche the rain
into hiding in grey clouds
The pulse of living
aches in the head of poetry
like prey awaiting its death
The sun rages in long hours
A glaring stare into cowering eyes
Flesh belies submission
Wailing its facade
swollen like cacti
Even leaves turn upward
begging
A prayer echoes in the haze
and falls ashen
under droned footsteps
that perpetuate the march
the onward homage of pagan docility
until darkness breathes relief
up through the subterrain
and eyes close
in humble servitude
