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heard she got hurt
and your daddy went and
grabbed his shotgun
that one
always leaning barrel down
in the closet

your hands were over your mouth
couldn’t tell if you were crying
out or ashamed
but I heard your daddy
called the neighbor a spic
and threatened to send him home

was it you
who confessed you felt a little
at home hearing your daddy
talk like that
I thought it was
but my memory isn’t any good

the police came
defused the situation
told your daddy to put on
some clothes and some coffee
they empathized
said the country ain’t what it
used to be
the south is for us

I could have sworn it was you
who said
in near reverence
you agreed

I thought about getting up to leave
my hands were red too
so what was there to do