Previous 

The raven-haired victim

Jerry Raaf

At 0400 hours, a yellow Camaro takes flight
As Bob Dylan screams in the stereo deck
A sound of cold painful metal preludes
Moans of a raven-haired girl, just 20
Gold necklaces try to hide in the folds
Of the motionless black lace sweater
Black racing gloves remain snapped on petite hands
Snow partially covers separated high heel shoes
A hard cover book slides on crusts of snow
TITLE: Possession and Exorcism

The Devil laughs and it echos in the Bow Valley
As the ignition buzzer mourns its owner
Time carries on, for even the second hand
On the small wrist continues to move with sterile precision
Emergency red and blue lights scrub the hillside
Tell me
Try to tell me, Go ahead
Tell me there would have been no difference
That things would still be the same
If Jesus had been a passenger in that car

Jerry Raaf formerly worked as a paramedic in Alberta. He now lives in Abbotsford, B.C.

Previous 

Last modified February 14, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.