Drawing attention

Who draws 

those lines 

at crime scenes?

The ones

with awkward strokes, 

that trace 

the final pose 

of dear-departed

folks. 

That job 

must take 

some training, 

perhaps 

a day-long class; 

and then the test, 

an outline, 

done well,

but very fast. 

Like when 

we made those turkeys, 

with crayons 

deftly traced: 

each finger 

was a feather; 

the thumb, 

a bird-brained face.

da Vinci or Bellini 

could never do 

that  work. 

They’d likely add 

flared nostrils, 

beady eyes, 

and other

quirks. 

They’d try hard

to embellish 

the scene

with artsy flare— 

their outlines 

stealing notice 

from the victims 

resting there. 

I’d like 

to make 

those markings, 

the angles 

all askew, 

of Bobs and Neds, 

Eugenes and Teds, 

But never one of you.