KNOCKS

KNOCKS

Ricardo Antonio Garcia

If the beasts

knocks next door

dragging

the neighbor from their home

and the beaded sweat

runs

from your brow

dripping

on the hardwood floor

the falling

and pattering sounds

signal

the abuse of power

and how helpless we are

against

its onslaught of brutality.

If the beast

wears a uniform

shielded

by a shining badge

like a cowboy

wrangling

a cow

can we dismiss

the vulgarity?

Can we forgive

knocks

when they come

and fires

where hellish cries

beg you

to save them.

One knock

is a prevailing wind.

Two knocks

means

it is your turn …