She Was In, But They Wanted Her Out

down in the valley
just west of the apple orchard
she lied face down in the field
where thirty minutes ago the whole gang
banged out their shields
bound by blood, sisters and brothers
die by the sword than give each other trouble

but she was weak
valid reason to terminate and not put to use
and i lingered in the shadows
while the blows and pops grew louder...harsher by the hour
thoughts of Rapunzel unable to escape her tower
even with all that golden hair
beauty turned to despair

her porcelain face became that of
a tossed doll, played with more than usual: shut mouth to keep the sound in
falling to her knees she simply couldn't see
familiar cheeks once kissed by her lips that were bleeding

and i lingered in the shadows shackled by rules and fear
not wishing for death on this God-less new year
bound by blood, sisters and brothers
death by a bullet that should have missed her

down in the valley
just east of the apple orchard
the forbidden dance of betrayal performed for
one from six others
and here i stand with invisible blood on my clean hands