a red sun by Justin Hyde

a red sun
by Justin Hyde

a red sun rises from the east
through the truck stop window

as the sparrow jostles the hedges
as a nine year old walks into his seventh foster home
as somewhere
a leprechaun sets fire to his shadow.

a red sun rises from the east
through the truck stop window

as roses drown in gasoline
as a four-year old's hymen is ripped open by an uncle's finger
as somewhere
a bengal tiger leaves a suicide note in the mangroves.

a red sun rises from the east
through the truck stop window

as this large black man hitching to virginia
for his mother's funeral tells me
i will be a great preacher some day

as part of me would like to believe him
as somewhere
a candle is blown out.

Author bio:

Justin Hyde lives in Iowa where he works with criminals.