COOL GUN

Grandpa says,
a boy ain't hardly a man
'til he gets his fIrst gun.

Goin' on twelve now.
Been savin' up, a lot.
'sponsible and ever'thang.
All the boys are gettin'
.22 rifles this year.
Please, Pa.

Cool gun.
Gold bead in V.
Left eye closes.
Finger twitches.
Songbird falls.

Feathers quiver
in cupped hands.
Death. Silence.

Hand wipes
tears and vomit
from trembling chin
and new rifle.

A boy ain't hardly a man
'til he makes his fIrst kill,
some folks say.

Dewell H Byrd
Eureka. CA