Photo by Beard Papa on Flickr, licensed under the Creative Commons.
I shot a man today, he had a mind to take my life.
He made the floor damp, he made the floor red.
There were moans from him, or moans from others
watching, I could not see, dark coming for him or me.
Just as lead in a dream, I was too heavy to turn.
His lips moved and moved, Oh God,
Oh God, I have a daughter.
I did not know what to do, I did not know.
I’m sorry, my own voice said, I was.
But I’m a daughter, too.
His eye found me and he cried, I believe,
I believe, I believe.