Headache

by Braudis Lee Pegram

In memory of January 1, 2004

Decapitation was a blessing,
In her entelechy, disguise was unnecessary.
Her desire, greater than all love.

Migraines were her parents, depression, first cousin.
Their devotion was immaculate,
Without pause, without hesitation, without
And within the spirit that God had bestowed.

Though despicable, this was His work, she thought.
His justice for her sins of delinquency.
Jesus had acknowledged she knew what she had done.

Kill her if I loved her so much,
Her smile-less request would anger me.
Sometimes the anger would get lost
In the maze of my consideration.

She was a disabled thoroughbred,
Lying there, walking a prize.
Face grimaced, eyes receding from the light,

Too blind for any other solution,
She desired only that her head might deliquesce
As her trembling arms beckoned me
Not for lovemaking but all-consuming death,

I thought how many times we had been here before,
I thought how my life would be without her…
Then I got a headache.

Back