Pen or Knife or Penknife
for I.J.

praying hands can as easily
become killing hands
a murderer’s hands
murdering hands

a poet’s hand,
a hand with a pen
can become
a hand with a gun
or a knife

my ink can substitute
for your blood

on the road or on
the side of the road
on the wall or the floor

depending on
if I flipped
or snapped
this way
or that


© Obediah Michael Smith, 2010
7:00 p.m. 02.07.10