The Unforgiven Poem by david e golledge

A heterosexual couple
walk into a gay
West End bar.

Like a typical scene
from a typical
Hollywood western,
when the silent,
enigmatic gunslinger
after weeks in the desert
enters a saloon -

conversation stops. Dead.


Laughter subsides.
Burning cigarettes
are held undrawn
on the edge of lips.
Heads turn.
Eyes stare accusingly.
Nipple rings
cease to ring.

Unlike the cowboy movie
where the gunslinger
eventually shoots
everyone in the place,
the couple turn
and quietly leave

wondering
what they are guilty of.