By Oyah Beverly A Scott
PROMPT — The way I see it ...
When I heard Elijah's words
I wanted my bitter water
sweetened
with honey, lemon and cucumber
in my momma's crystal pitcher
or maybe it was another mom's mom
and I got it at the thrift store
where again one day someone
will find and seize it with joy
I hope its half price day
I unlatched the janky cabinet door
and bent to retrieve the glass
there it was lifting its tiny legs
while its tiny feet remained glued
to the trap my husband set
I watched in horror as I felt the futility
of his movements in my body
I tried to wash the pitcher and forget
but it was too much and it was too late
I have also stepped in traps
I had started that day with high hopes
and the usual scan
of my Facebook page
then everything changed
I read the story and the things he said:
“I have my ID right here”
“I’m just different, that’s all”
“I don’t even kill flies”
“Forgive me”
I lifted my eyes from the page
I turned my face away
but it is too late
I saw his sweet, sweet face,
then reread the words he said
“You all are phenomenal”
“You are beautiful and I love you”
“Ow, that really hurt”
“I will do anything”
my eyes blink desperately.
like the tiny mouse
trying to lift his feet
I can barely believe
this could truly be
“Oh I’m sorry I wasn’t trying to do that”
“I just can’t breathe correctly.”
I have poetry
I can breathe.
Ohhh me oh my
they have used
a hammer
to kill a butterfly
May Elijah McClain's sweet soul RIP
Oyah Beverly A. Scott is a writer, poet and soothsayer. She believes her life experiences and her writing to be a beacon of light for those who stumble in the dark. She writes from Olympia Fields, Illinois.