In the Mist

A dark day’s truth hidden from light
Two brothers and an uncle supposedly alone
Flames of gunfire killing two of the three
What really happened wouldn’t be known

The lone uncle never a man to be pushed
The brothers at issue themselves at the time
Both brothers a quarrel with the in-law now
Was it self defense or a murderous crime 

The brother who lived his wife at the scene 
He lay on the ground crying in pain
Two dead the third yielding before his wound
A blood uncle’s tale of how they were slain

The blood uncle a man of unquestioned repute
A chicken fighter, bootlegger, loyal to none
Blocking roads to extort payment 
Always looking out for number one

On the day of the shooting he saw nothing
And yet he explained how he knew it to be
Everything projected involvement from him
Many directions his stories would lead

The living brother’s wife had a breakdown
Was it fake or was it truly the undo stress 
The questionable uncle picked up all revolvers
His prints on all clearing him of the mess 

Perhaps the best of character cost two lives
Self defense easy when no witnesses exist 
The corrupt blood uncle died years later
Dim truth faded to black in the mist

JBentley-17Nov2023