Michelle Hartman’s new book, Wanton Disarray, just published, along with her other books,Disenchanted and Disgruntled, Irony and Irreverence & The Lost Journal of my Second Trip to Purgatory, are available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Hartman’s work has been published in numerous journals as well as various other countries. She is the former editor of Red River Review. Hartman holds a BS in Political Science-Pre Law from Texas Wesleyan University and a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Tarrant County Community College.
The Police are at the Door
Dead. The thought does not fully
register. How does god pick who’s
to die, how does a serial killer;
or do I repeat myself?
It seems to have the organization
of those arcade cranes
dipping into cheap trinkets and candy.
Money slides in
and the cranes go, articulated grip
inside a glass case. Hold a button
move it left or right, back or forward.
A second button drops it onto pile of prizes.
If you’re lucky it gets a drug dealer
or pedophile, but if you’re not
it gets your grandchild or husband.
Money goes into charities
church plates
bribes
trying to beat
senseless, arbitrary crane.