Molly Frederick’s most recent poem to appear here was “In the Pause” (May 2017)

Death in Minor Key
By Molly Frederick

Bedizened by burgundy drops
of blood,
a robin’s body lies—dead,
broken—telling the truth,
but not what happened
before what happened next.
A single certainty was suddenly
altered by shocking smears of red.
Seconds mattered, though
minutes ended the tale.
The long interval tells all.
Hard and bitter, such eloquence.

So when the total was reached,
and revision
no longer possible,
only a darkening stain
remained as pungent proof,
songless and solemn.
Potent depiction of what
it means to be—too late.