Close Call

The lady marches in, flanked by cops on either side

Looks to Hillary's traitorous skin that bares bruises tinged deep purple and red

We 3 sisters conspire to lie simply by reading one another's eyes.

Sir, Ma’am, she commands please step outside

Maman nods her head, complies, shaking with dread,

Papa shoots a red glare but follows, one cop on either side.

She first questions Chris, then me, then Hillary; no one wavers or cries

Papa warned they’d separate us for good if they knew so all remains unsaid

but what if she can read the truth in our eyes?

She scans the fridge for food, the closet for clothes, our eyes for lies

Looks to her list, checks off well-kept, well-fed, well-behaved, well-read

Then makes the call and our parents return, still with cops by their sides.

She says everything seems fine, takes the cops, leaves our lives

Maman kisses each little head, hugs us tight, then goes to bed

Leaving us alone to read the rage and relief in Papa’s eyes.

Then he hugs us 3 at once, trapping us in his arms, and sighs:

All my love, my money, my time, my life devoted to 3 who would see me dead

You think that lady cares? that those white cops are on your side?

Ignore him—we 3 will be alright, I whisper to my little sisters with my eyes.