I stood and slowly
bared my chest,
absorbing a sauna of rage
when the tattoo came into view.

The feed from the news pool
captured the precise moment
the woman in red
extended her hand.

Fear permeated the hall;
the banisters were slippery with it.
It was all over social media
before the sirens died away.

Outside,
near the alley,
masked men threatened
a gathering of homeless children.

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Barry Basden lives in the Texas hill country. The world makes him Wince, which is the title of his latest collection of flash. He may have another, one related to war, out this year.