Sacrificial Atonement (Poem)

Distant thumber rumbles

Rain drips, thinly patched roof

In kitchen, elderly wife mumbles

Of life at least tis proof

Arthritic hound twitches in sleep

Hunting rabbits, canine dream

One could wish, sleep so deep

Perhaps a chance soul to redeem

Stare into fireplace

Embers flare, smolder

Still cold this place

Bone marrow doth molder

This old man can still carry a torch

Moonshiners reacted in anger

Confronted them right on porch

In heat of moment, imminent danger

Nobody aware, nobody knows

Bodies six feet deep, cold

Neath snow, in ice froze

One less threat land doth hold

Now snow melts, dogs sniff about

Sheriff curious about what occurred

There a deputy in discovery shouts

Right and wrong, line so blurred

Shovels dig, dirt flies

Bodies soon to be found

By hand a gun, from chest a sigh

Round trigger guard finger wound

Wife unaware, barely herself

She’ll be better off alone

State will look after her health

Knock at door, a single shot to atone