20 Sep 2019: "Overwhelmed Eureka" by Jimmy Nameles

"Overwhelmed Eureka"

Based on a news report from 1935: California Mob Lynches Police Slayer


Honorary chief and veteran of the great war
Overwhelmed by pathetic criminals on a highway patrol
A $35 robbery
Did the officers 
Know?

No!

Everyone in Yreka found out
The heat rose
Jack Daw's funeral sparked a summer storm
50 masked men grasped the law in their hand
Mob justice prevailed 
Deputy overthrown

Accused killer 
Clyde Johnson 
S
 W
  I
  N
  G
  I
 N
G

From a pine

2 comments:

  1. The style of writing suggests there are more eyes than one on the scene. It takes you in, then moved you out and then zooms upon the final scene of death. Almost like the answer we were waiting for. “Overwhelmed + Eureka” seem like opposites at first, but they are also extremes...there is so MUCH of both of them. To notice how the energy of these words reflect its characters is really something. Well written!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not sure why the one line is bolded and underlined.

      I like that the stanza's look like guns.

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