Yellow Stars

Yellow Stars

I watched the life drain

  from his eyes…

And in every drop of shame that fell

  from him, and his attire,

I glimpsed his darkened morning.

I watched him pour himself

  over the concrete

-like forbidden liquid mercury-

Cohesive, in his fluid state,

  and yet, I saw him drowning.

I watched him latch onto

his surroundings…

Begging each brother in his view

  to sustain  and support

 his final earnest pleading.

I watched them beg us all

  For mercy….

But we had our orders,

  and they had their scars:

Since we had the rifles

…. and they had Yellow Stars.

ashleigh butcher