red thumb-tack
when someone escapes
from the halfway house
i have to walk down
to one of the administrator's offices
and grab their file.
during my shift
they're long gone for the day
i unlock the office
flip the lights on
sit down at their desk
and pull out the file cabinet.
tonight
i'm in the new guy's office:
been here
a couple months
doesn't look people
in the eyes
mostly talks
in the banalities
of college football.
i get the file
close the cabinet
and notice
a little red thumb-tack.
it's
sticking out of the edge
of his wooden desk
like a dagger.
the whole length
of his desk
is honey-combed
with stab wounds.
must be a
thousand of them.
jesus christ,
i find myself
whispering out loud
running my fingertips
across the desk.
i pull out
the thumb-tack
look at it close
and try it
in some of the holes.
jesus christ,
i whisper
out loud again.
"officer hyde
officer hyde
to the control desk,"
the intercom
snaps me back.