My hands shake, watching
as clothes are pressed
memories of tears and pain
Fear in the kitchen
the blade that cut my voice
waits to help with cooking
It talks sometimes
eloquently mocking
Fanged Charybdis waits
in steel basin, chattering with Blade
It was cheated, and won’t forget
Up with the iron, steam issues a hiss
Cambodian Garage, rusted locks
orange serpent speaks out of
red and black mouths
metal teeth clamp
Up with the iron, steam hiss
smoothing, pressing
but the cloth has no voice
and cannot scream
~~~
© W.R.R. 7/5/1995
As Ashes Scatter 