Melinda J. Irvine

i saw a woman hurt today
inside a crumble of people
staring

as a man
and security guard
grapple toward a woman

LOUD
and voices
indiscernible

security guard
LOUDER
as man rushes

at her, young woman
his hand
raised, fist

clenched white
knuckles and elbow
high

only stopping
suddenly
before her face.

and i stand
at the top of stairs
watching

armed security guard
watching
the others below

watching
and as i stand
and do nothing

his fury
vanishes
into street dirt

she left standing
tiny frame against
concrete wall

doing nothing
nothing
not crying

not shaking
not moving
not saying

and i want to go to her
and say
DON’T don’t don’t don’t

please
do not
we are all silently

do not
all of us
do not

willing her
do not
do not

and i cannot look
as she disappears
into his direction …

© 2015 Melinda Irvine