What I Learned by R. Erica Doyle

What I learned

by R. Erica Doyle

published in The Rumpus, April 22, 2022

Why was there even An axe in the house there were thorns to prune In the garden but Why was the axe In the house?

Was it in the closet With the rifle? I don’t know –

But when he chased you With the axe And you ran screaming to the back – Towards the library – Towards the basement – Going to hide Perhaps Going out the back door–

She stopped him. Stood between for the first time Said

NO!

And for a thousand years waited Til the arm was soft Til he took the blade down Til you sighed like the rabbit Pinned by the dog and released

This was how I learned She would not Let him Kill us