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| Jamal, Before the Thunderstorm |
Margaret Morrill |
Thunder mutters darkly in the west,
In the park, trees toss in the sulphurus wind
Like patients afflicted with a dangerous fever.
When other children scatter to their homes,
Jamal stays on, contemptuous of shelter.
Wearing an orange shirt stenciled
“King of the Zombies”, his hair
Mowed to stubble, the bruises on his face
Showing vivid as paint in the brassy light,
He slouches on a park bench,
Finishing the stolen bottle of Molson’s.
Now and then he looks up at the sky,
And dares the lightning down.
