"The Government broke my heart" --Poetry by Janet Phelan

"The Government broke my heart"

For Special Agent Jack L. Smith

The broken-hearted

fill my mailbox

drown out my voice mail

jockey for position

in my yahoo inbox

I see them walk down the street

often alone

listing on the pavement

sometimes clutching

another broken-hearted hand

"The government took my husband

The government took my child

The government took my home

The government broke my heart"

ii

The second story bedroom

where I lay on my side

frozen with grief

and wracked with loss

My heart breaking open

fracturing

the slivers sticking

in my rib cage

You lying beside me

Your hand stroking my hair

Your breath even and slow

on my neck

Your third eye gleaming

as you de-constructed my life

iii

I love her

more than you

I told you

I know

you said

heartless

homing in

on my slim

remaining pulse

Janet C. Phelan