12/19
Sonnets From Other Lives: Coogan

Coogan ducks under the yellow tape
& steps into the crowded living room.
That familiar fight or flight urge to escape
he forces from his mind—there’s work to do.
A white female is sprawled out on the bed.
Coogan estimates five bullet holes.
White male on the chair, much of his head
is all over the wall. A young patrol
officer lifts a pistol with his pen.
--.357-- all the chambers fired.
Coogan’s thinking—Here we go again—
another fucking murder suicide.
He wishes these things were done in reverse—
where the killer does the suicide part first.