The Dogs Of That Place..... Poem by RIC BASTASA

this is the place
of reserved people

the men must be
silent
the women
head bowed

the children
cannot play in
the park

the sound of their
church bell
is extremely
sorrowful though
restrained with
its clanging

there will be no
mass for those
who hang themselves

the only ones who
are free
what to do
and can do it
anywhere
are the dogs

their tongues
lick
the tail wags
and they bark
always at the wrong
tree.