Cementing the Holes

turmoil within
stirs an empty belly
bubbling up with
discontent
wrought with sores
from overuse

breath held to
block out
the stink
of injustice, emphatic
disgust on the edge
of his words
on the tip of his

tongue cut free
from vile embrace
of unsavory rhetoric
laden without
words to
nourish
his wisdom

left to his own
devices
he rises up
unarmed but ready
to fight
blind yet hitting
the target
off center
still
piercing
front to
back

He kneels before
his audience
and peers through
the holes he has
torn in their
armor
gasping
he falls


standing free
behind
steaming platters
filled with relief
he sees the
backs
of his
sworn opponents
holding up
the people
offering them
cement to
plug up the
holes