she is so soft and warm when she sleeps,
and i am silent as i come in
from night riding.
sent a boy to do a man’s job.
then i wasn’t man enough
to finish it. i never thought it’d come to
this. thought i’d be helping the law,
not breaking it.
viola pats the bed for me to
join her.
she makes room for me in her sleep.
i cannot get in bed with viola.