POSTCARD
always the dark body hewn asunder; always
~Natasha Trethewey
always the dark body hewn asunder; always
the rope and the stretched neck broken, always shadows
streaked across ashen faces, nights darkness wrecked
with torchlight, always the body blacker than clay
mob below upright glaring, always lack stowed
in the hollowness between dark ribs. the spec-
tacle flash, framed and looking up. always some slack
nigger sorry, looking down. always the rending
the parted flesh, the body broken never blessed
always a sacred tree, and dead weight, the dark roots wracked
with guilt. forever and always, here, an ending
the fatal twitch ticking down till final breath.
always murder, stolen sex, helpless overcome with fire.
always the flesh bared to scarcely masked desire.
