Facing the Enemy
by Jennifer Markell
And then I see him, gripping the pole,
overgrown beard, ill-fitting coat,
gloveless hand clipping the air.
Passengers turn from a slurry of curses,
words a cluster bomb aimed
at a brown-skinned woman
hooded in silk hijab.
Get out fucking terrorist,
get the hell out!
Gaze unwavering, she assesses.
I said get the hell out now.
Parsing a glance at the victim,
I count seven steps to the nearest exit.
And then I see her, coming close,
impassive face enfolded in umber.
She smiles. Faces the drunk.
It’s all right, buddy. It’s okay.
You’re okay.
Disarmed, he stumbles
wordless down the train.
Jennifer Markell’s first poetry collection, Samsara, was named a “Must Read Book of Poetry” for 2015 by the Massachusetts Book Awards. It was also named a Finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, 2015. Her work has appeared in publications including Consequence, The Hawaii Pacific Review, Rhino, and The Women’s Review of Books (forthcoming). Jennifer works as a psychotherapist with a special interest in therapeutic uses of writing.
by Jennifer Markell
And then I see him, gripping the pole,
overgrown beard, ill-fitting coat,
gloveless hand clipping the air.
Passengers turn from a slurry of curses,
words a cluster bomb aimed
at a brown-skinned woman
hooded in silk hijab.
Get out fucking terrorist,
get the hell out!
Gaze unwavering, she assesses.
I said get the hell out now.
Parsing a glance at the victim,
I count seven steps to the nearest exit.
And then I see her, coming close,
impassive face enfolded in umber.
She smiles. Faces the drunk.
It’s all right, buddy. It’s okay.
You’re okay.
Disarmed, he stumbles
wordless down the train.
Jennifer Markell’s first poetry collection, Samsara, was named a “Must Read Book of Poetry” for 2015 by the Massachusetts Book Awards. It was also named a Finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, 2015. Her work has appeared in publications including Consequence, The Hawaii Pacific Review, Rhino, and The Women’s Review of Books (forthcoming). Jennifer works as a psychotherapist with a special interest in therapeutic uses of writing.