inside/outside

babies stood in cribs
smell of urine permeated
building locked
kept crime out or in

          cheeks of rouge
          lips of pearl
          nails of gloss
          woman of grandeur

          red silk stockings
          magenta hip skirt
          blue ankle boots
          woman of night

          bass loud
          bouncing chevy
          stopped at curb
          paying customer

          neon flamingo
          creaking door
          vibrating bed
          ned was dead

early morning dew
glistens on the daffodils
reaching for the sun

wet tears drop slowly
down baby’s porcelain cheeks
morning sun dries, soothes

          ned was dead
          bled on the
          bedspread
          knife in chest

          woman of grandeur
          closed creaking door
          woman of night
          ripped red silk stockings

          flickering flamingo
          in mirror of bouncing chevy
          she drove away
          left dead ned on bed

–Judy L. Brekke