Dallas, Texas 1963

She scrambled
from where she sat
in the back seat
climbing onto the
trunk of that
long luxurious Lincoln
not to escape an
assassin's assault
as many assumed
but to collect the shards of
skull and bits of brain
that had been blown
back onto it as a bullet
blasted a hole in his head
his body lolling over to
lie limply in her lap
as her flowers fell to
the floorboard
sure that if she were
to stuff them back in
he would live again
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

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Gondolf Avatar
May 12, 2021 at 10:36 AM
This verse gives me chills, Angela, being from Dallas I can remember that day like it was yesterday, I was in 10th grade at the time. I would thank you for the memories but this is one I would just soon forget. John
Leffanta Avatar
April 27, 2021 at 11:32 AM
A natural reaction as I shall never forget one of my friend's trying to push his intestines back into his stomach after being shot, a scene too horrible for the movies. Aloha! Rico
Hankins Avatar
April 27, 2021 at 8:34 AM
I remember it well, Angela. Yes, I think in her terror she must have thought it necessary to retrieve the parts that had been blown away. So sad!
Douglas Avatar
April 27, 2021 at 1:23 PM
Yes, I wrote this after reading an article where the secret service agent that had climbed onto the car with her said that was what she was doing in her shock, not trying to escape as most people thought.
Cunningham Avatar
April 27, 2021 at 7:47 AM
I was only seven when it happened but I remember it well. Tom
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