2008 Woodie Awards
Panther Poetry Lounge
Issue date: 3/23/05 Section: Arts and Entertainment
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You judge a man by the silence he keeps
By Wanda Coleman
he calls to tell me something. the something
gets caught and can't make it out
he struggles with it over the wire
my eyes straining to sniff the slightest touch
biting snarling snapping words come out dum-dum bullets
into my chest and blood jumps out on me
and a little gets on him
he goes into the bathroom for a towel
hands it to me, mutely
dialing the phone number
click---he's there on the receiving end
i hear him waiting for my voice
hang up hastily, flushing
he knows it's me
my eyes are trapped in his fists
his mouth shapes the syllables that translate bitch
the scream hides between cold sheets
it snuggles against my thigh
his smile enters the room cautiously
finds its way to my face
stays until i wash