the body of a polish man was found
hanging in an oak tree.
the sheriff’s report ruled the man’s death a suicide. they said there
was a bottle of liquor in the man’s coat pocket.
but certain neighbors made no secret of the fact that they
were not pleased to have a polish national
in their valley.
night riders beat him up the month before.
the bruises and cuts weren’t half healed when the letter arrived
saying:
we’re coming for you.
signed, k.k.k.
dang,
young merlin van tornhout is walking everywhere
because he “gave” his car to a klansman.
if the riffraff joining the klan these days
can take the one thing most loved from an awestruck boy,
why couldn’t they plant a bottle of liquor
in the pocket of a hanged man?