last witness*

you were there
tell me please
if you don’t mind
if it is no intrusion
upon what graced
their last gaze
the floor
a chair
the ceiling
after a yawn
a bible friend faithful
your face
perhaps your face
their last light
upon your face
as they read
to your face
other seed
fell among thorns

*Dylann Roof, before he murdered them, sat and listened to the
study of Mark 4 by the nine.