one shot can save your life

one shot can take it

which crisis will

eclipse

a bad day, a wait of six

or a suspended drop of

sickness

lives are taken

regardless

we are

at risk

for a

routine trip

by hail of bullets

or vapor in breath

either projectile will

corrupt and defile

fill the air with ire

we are but

gladiators

trapped in this pit

awaiting redemption

waiting for the games to

cease

waiting on a tide of

magistrates

rather than a Caesar

to piece together these

shattered fragments of

squabbling glass shards

Jeni Alden St. Laurent, Nashua

with Brian R. Hammar, formerly of Nashua

•••

Send submissions to mburdette@nashuatelegraph.com

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