Poet on Trial

I couldn’t take my eyes off the winding blue rivers in the back of his hand.

Are you saying that you didn't hear the gunshot?

Oh, I heard the gunshot.

You actually heard it?

I heard it.

It was loud, was it? asked the DA.

It was loud enough, said the witness.

But you didn't look over?

Excuse me?

You did not, in fact, look over. What some might consider to be a normal human reaction... Upon hearing an unexpected noise, a very loud noise, normally one would be inclined to be turning one's head, your head, sir, in the direction of the loud sound, in this case, the gunshot. I remind you, Mr. Poe, you are under oath!

No.”

“No, what?”

No, I did not look over, on account of the fact that I couldn’t take my eyes off the winding blue rivers in the back of his hand! said Mr. Poe.

You are referring to the veins in the victim's hand?

I am.

Perhaps what I should ask is why.

Objection! Called Defense.

Grounds? Asked the judge.

On the grounds that my esteemed colleague failed to ask the witness a question?

Please read back District Attorney Stahl's previous... ah... words, ordered the judge.

'Perhaps what I should ask is why', quoted the stenographer.

Declarative Statement! roared Edgar Poe standing in the witness chair, his arms spread wide.

Declarative Statement, said defense, calmly, and without rising from his chair.

I'll allow, said the judge.

I'll rephrase, said District Attorney Stahl. Why, prey tell, in the middle of the night, in the middle of the street, when your friend was suddenly gunned down in one of this city's worst neighborhoods, did you not look over at the man who ran out and stood not five feet beside you as he shot your friend through the heart?

Asked and answered! yelled Defense.

I couldn't take my eyes off the winding blue--

No more questions, conceded District Attorney Stahl.

-320 Words-