vervain______

was there a question about your life
or your death?
yes.

one hot night
my son and i fell asleep together
we were so close we were sticking.
i decided to get up and take a walk
up the hill
past the cemetary
in the dark.
two men grabbed me from the entrance of the canal walk.
one stabbed me, the other watched.
my spirit floated above the mess
and all the while i said no
no, no
this
cannot be.
i went
back to the bedroom where my son slept
he was not crying for me yet.
the others called for me
my grandmothers,
an old friend
but i
would not go.
i would have to watch over my son
and haunt his dreams with my arms
so that i could hug him
so that i may love him
the rest of
the rest of
the rest of
his life.