If you look into the barrel of a gun, your face winces.

For some reason you think squishing your face together will

Turn your face into steel, blocking the bullet.

You will protect yourself by scrounging out the reality

Of the gun.

You will hide like a tuck in a pillow.

Shoo bullet, don’t bother me.

A fly might die in a gunshot.

Still, a person, worse.

But you will not die.

You will be impenetrable like a beautiful girl’s flirtation

Making me wonder if I am worthy of so much potential affection.

 

David Lawrence has published over four hundred poems.  His new book, Lane Changes, is coming out in November 2007 from Four Way Books. His documentary, "Boxer Rebellion," about his boxing career, played at Sundance Film Festival.