Achilles in Jasper, Texas
I know this: a man walked home drunk
along the corduroy of pines
in east Texas, the bronze duff and
the dust and the late light that fell
on him. Three men gave him a lift
that afternoon and raised him
with their fists and lowered
him with their nigger this and
nigger that and after a while,
when all the fun they could have
with him leaked out into
the ruts of a logging cut,
they tied him to the boat
hitch of their truck and pulled
away. I know he kept his head up
awhile because his elbows were
ground to the bone; I know enough
was finally enough, and his head
left his body behind,
but I don’t know what to do
with this, America, this rage
like Achilles twitching
Hector behind his chariot
for 12 days until even
the gods were ashamed.
by Jeffrey Thomson
from: Split This Rock 2008