UNNECESSARY GRATITUDE

*Inspired by my friend's harrowing experience with a police officer during a traffic stop, which she thankfully survived.*

I should not have to thank you 

for not killing me

 

Physically or mentally

 

Your grace 

when it comes to my well-being

my being

should not cause me 

to praise dance

should not make 

other women envious 

as if I have a monopoly

on that level of luck

When I call my girls 

to express relief 

about the tragedy 

I narrowly survived that day 

I should not 

be talking about you

When our glances connect

I should not 

have to devise

an impromptu escape plan

should not regret discontinuing 

lessons at the shooting range

should not be trying to discern

which of my keys 

will effectively 

mutilate your eyeball

When you say my name

it should not sound like 

Five-0 on bullhorn

creak of rusty prison doors

a funeral hymn

or dirt being shoveled 

onto my casket

When I say your name

your response should give

favorite soul-soothing 

old-school slow jam 

that sparks canyon-wide grin

It should not

be giving Candyman

Your touch should be

73-degree beach breeze

tracing love notes in cursive

across my skin 

not

concussions

roadmap-trail bruises

and crushed-ice bones

I should not have to appreciate 

that your Incredible Hulk

did not choose

violence today

But please

dispense these morsels

of gratitude to him quickly

I hope they're enough

to keep him tame

I already know

I wouldn't like him

when he's angry

©2025 Charlene E. Green

From my upcoming book

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