Black Saturday Poem by David Tallman

Beds made neatly with green blankets
Line the large concrete room like trees
We huddle in a green mass in the middle
Of the concrete jungle we currently reside in
Legs crossed, backs straight, and eyes forward
Terrified with anticipation as our minds raced
Conceiving every possible scenario that might unfold

The room lay in silence and expectation
Not a word was spoken
But the look in the eyes of young boys around
About to be made into men said all I needed
Eyes that cried out in empathy, eyes of understanding
Ones that exuded my own fears

A bead of sweat ran from my brow to my chin
Falling on the floor below with a deafening splash
Like a tidal wave slamming a boat’s stern
Then melting away in an instant into the concrete

The door flung open violently as if an omen
Of the pain that would soon fall harshly upon us
A large hour glass figure emerged from the darkness
Stepping into the light with disgust smeared on his face
Like mud on a jersey of a football game played
Under heavy sheets of unceasing rainfall

Harsh words sprung from his mouth upon us
But we could not understand them
He finished and walked back into the darkness
Briefly giving us the illusion of safety

Out of the dark and into the light they came
One pit-bull and one Doberman like man
Their presence and screams shot out like a cannon
From their mouths, filling the room with panic
We were like cockroaches that just had a light flick on
As we scattered this way and that
Trying to avoid the vicious men that roamed the confined area
Hoping for the chance to send waves of pain
Shivering through our bodies



On the floor, push, push, roll over, crunch, crunch
We were like dogs obeying our masters
For fear of his vengeance if we were to stray from his commands
Up and down our bodies hurled themselves
Down on the floor and back up to our feet
Legs carrying us like jack rabbits
From one end of the barracks to the other

The master’s of our fate loomed ominously in the middle
Of the small concrete hallway which we flowed
Like water flowing rapidly across rocks in a riverbed
Crashing and slamming into anything in our paths

We attempted to avoid our tormentors during our dash
Back and forth, like squirrels caught in the road
Staring down the fast advancing headlights
Only to hesitate at the wrong moment and meet our end

I feel my body lifted into the air
Floating, suspended I hung dripping with fear
My time defying gravity ends rapidly
As I plunge into the ground my body cracks
Against the cement like a plane crashing
Hard into rocky terrain below

Soon the pit-bull’s eyes stare into mine
Barking at me to sprint outside
I find myself engrossed in sand that consumes me
Clinging to my sweat drenched body
Like a newborn baby to its mother

Around and around we run with no sight of a finish
We desperately seek the checkered flag
Signaling the end of the pain that sears through our bodies
And the fear that chills us to the bone

We are herded like sheep and driven towards food and water that await us
Like robots we rigidly move through the line
Greedily gathering goodies on to our trays
We move like one body as we all sit at once
The pit-bull’s orders waft through the air
We grab our forks, shovel one bite into the gaping mouths that lay vacant
In longing to consume much needed nutrition
And then like ants marching quickly move
Dispensing trays and hurrying back to our new home

Sweat covers us from head to toe
A stench permeates through the air
Our sheppards again lead us to water
It crashes quickly over our bodies
But before the sweat can be overtaken by the cleansing effects of the water
Drizzling ever so gently from above
We are herded out like a father would lead out his screaming child from a mall

We strip down and move quickly to our beds
The command is given and we mount
Falling on to them like a tree that has been cut down
Worked hard by a lumberjack until it can take no more
We lay rigid in bed as the light disappears
And darkness covers the room like a blanket
I pray as I let my mind soak in the events of today
Like a sponge soaking up water in the sink

My mind doubts and questions my body
If it will be able to take the continued punishment
Or if like a rock by the sea
Will eventually be weathered down

My mind finally follows my body
Like one foot follows another
And shuts down as my eyes slam shut
And my world turns to black