When you found the girl,
the wind, too, died or disappeared
from your senses completely;
your old dog whined, to see such sport;
you took care not to step too close
concerned with self-incrimination.

You crouched and prayed, you said;
you say you spoke moreso with bled color
than of condemnation or dissension;
that breath slipped to air as smokeless fire:

So this is God, and accident, and loss;
so this, malice and culmination of naught--
You dug nails into rooted ground, and tore one;
you stood; turned away. You called the cops.