Church bells ring
on a street
in Mexico,
cars and guns flash–
a red stain
ragged hole shirt.

Yellow dandelion
candles glow
on a bedroom dresser,
through filmy curtains
piano music–
Debussy.

The sound sets you free
in turquoise water,
beneath pink flowers
the gunshot holds no fear.

going home
to blue bayou
a bullet always tells the truth

Susan Beth Furst