As Planned

By Gary Lee Parker

A blade on leather
a life leaks out
a life seeps out
and saturates the sand

in a vacant desert
with no one about
but one life’s doubt
bleeding out
on the witness stand

things did not
things did not
did not
go as planned

A bear in heather
a gentle beast
from afar at least
berries in hand

a small dessert
to finish the feast
red from the priest
white from the fleeced
green from the blood-soaked sand

and things did not
things did not
did not

go as planned