WHEN I PASS THE PLACE

where my car slid off the road,
where amethyst barrettes
were flung from bloody hair,
forehead scalped

I’d be late for the film
whined in siren light

And who would tell the
friend I was meeting.
stay with us a man with
blue eyes said over

and over. The night
grass, September dew.

My mustang left like
litter. I suppose my
heart took a deep breath,
If there were sparrows

I didn’t hear them

by Lyn Lifshin