On First Seeing Jesse

I. What I Expected

The tentative asparagus tips
Of octopus tentacles,

A prehistoric gargantuan
Sneaking tip ends forward,

Predatory, ancient, moving
With dark-ocean needs.

These appendages,
Probing into the courtroom,

Exploratory suction-cups testing, Before the creature exerts

Bringing forth the weird slumped sac
Of its pulpy head.

II. What Entered Instead

Apathy. Simple,
Uncomplicated

Unconcerned
Grizzly body

Lumbering
With the least effort.

A bear-toad
In dreadlocks:

Motionless
Expressionless

Remorseless
And lidless.

III. What Lingers Tonight

I expected
Subterfuge:

Refusal,
No eye contact.

Instead,
He could not stop.

He stared
And stared

And stared at us,
As if to say:

I've won. They were my trophies.
I stole them, so they are gone.

Jane Lillian Vance