RIC S. BASTASA

now i need not blame the culprit
of this chopping incident: the head thrown from a cliff
rolling down
the deep part of the river below
a taxi driver did it
where blood of some fish
try to conceal
the stink of the the human blood
of two women

their four arms
wrapped in black plastic bags
apart from their thighs
thrown in different
places of the town

the police officers found
some other human parts
under the bridge
far from the others finally located
in the canal
of a distant barrio

i read the papers
the headlines of the city
about a cold murder

the killer said
he admitted the killing and will serve the sentence in jail

all because of the woman's word
demeaning his manhood
all because she wanted him out of her life

the words that finally know how to kill
to chop and throw the mouth, the lips, the teeth, the tongue
the arms and legs
and thighs

apart from each other

i do not mean to side with the killer
we simply have to be careful with the word that also knows how to kill

simple courtesy could have avoided
a cold murder
a kind word could have make a better place
a world of peace