self defense 

I.
the wrist grab. lined up in two rows 
facing each other in our black uniforms.
hard wood floor & bare foot & ceiling fan. 
dad had helped me tie my belt, knelt
in front of me, careful as he recalled the knot.
the weak spot is between the fingers where
you twist to break free & step backwards.
someone grabs you in the wet alley way 
on main street-- the one you & your brother
peer down when you walk back from the library.
you remember the motions perfectly &
thrown them over your shoulder onto the cement ground,
shattered like a green beer bottle.

II.
the gun. we learned that if someone pulls
a gun on you that there is nothing you can do.
you kneel & pray. they didn't tell us to pray
but it was assumed. i told dad on the jeep ride
home that i would try & knock it out of their hands
at least. he didn't say anything. the gun is a lot
like a mouth. maybe if they would have taught us 
a move i would have known what to do when he 
opened his mouth that wide. how do you defend yourself
against a kiss when you don't have enough time
to figure out if you're going to want it? 
pressed me into a brick wall like a thumb tac.
there's nothing you can do. you kneel. you pray.