August: The Novel

“two ways

still even today

written on a stone

as the black bird

flies above the tomb

out back

in the field of

blue and berries

that old woman still

stomping on his remains

over a misbehaved

no one has to hold the blame

heard he left

her mistake

guess she had

the whole town convinced

till the walking dead

said they need the land

for a parking space

to build something grand

So the city said

almost took a bullet to her head

Until she realized

she is not better off dead

so she whispered to chip

come snow come rain

I shall never leave this grave

and then she prayed

as the son gave

her another chance

to choose one of

two ways”