History
by Melanie Henderson
- Everything was brown,
- tree bark skin muddied edges
- of rivers Rappahannock & Potomac,
- irises, tight curls & z patterns
- boxed photographs.
- Some was black
- but not much,
- checkered or paisley pants,
- unsagged & tailored.
- Some was black,
- but not enough to seep in.
- It may have been fire
- in its prime light debris
- on the black of a Union soldier’s blood.
- Whenever or however it was,
- it’s as specific as a stain
- or a wish.
