We were in the Devil's Backbone Tavern
just outside Fischer, Texas, drinking
Lone Star beer and playing pool.
Fred's attention was drawn to the next room
by loud disturbing behavior from the bar
where everyone seemed to be exiting quietly.
"Hey, Larry," when I looked up he nodded
toward her. She was a dishwater blond
standing disheveled, holding forgotten beer.
She saw me looking and sauntered over
in a walk meant to be sexy but really just sad:
a hollow-eyed lovely with a vengeful spirit.
I tried not to encourage her but could not help
being curious about her black and blue face,
as if the price of beauty were paid in bruises.
In a voice that carried she confessed a dark secret
that decidedly shattered the bonds of love that
had fit her neatly like barbed-wire handcuffs.
From abused years she made her desperate choice
for murder by moonlight that very night.
Swirling her bottle she drank finally, deep and long.
When the deputy arrived she went peacefully,
but I never forget her anxious face - asking me
mutely to intercede for her with prayer.
*********************************************
Challenge from Baby Rainbow:
desperate
the price of beauty
black and blue
hollow
the devil's backbone
disturbing behaviour
dark secret
vengeful spirit
murder by moonlight
bonds of love
her desperate choice
*Title must be black and blue
*must include 2 emotions, or reference to 2 emotions
*must mention one city
*must mention yourself at least once
[PS: True story - with changes to fit the prompts]
