"I am innocent" by Danielle Tribus Colman

I am innocent

Darkness.

A flash of silent lightning.

Thunder.

A mouth open in a silent scream.

I see nothing.

I know nothing.

I am innocent.

A long line of people;

The green-grey of uniform,

The brown of skin,

The red of blood.

I did nothing.

I saw nothing.

I am innocent.

The sound of a shot.

A scream cut short,

Flesh laid open to reveal bare bone

And the glassy stare of death.

A whimper of pain,

A scream of agony,

A gurgle of failing breath,

And a whisper:

I hurt no one.

I killed no one.

I am innocent.

A woman in a gutter,

Naked to the waist.

A knife in her back,

Surprise in her eyes.

Her belly slashed open,

Her throat slit.

I do not know her.

I know no one here.

I am innocent.

A long line of people

Inching forward,

Heads bowed.

The crack of a cudgel

Across a man’s back,

The sound dulled by mist.

Do not beat me.

Do not kick me.

I am innocent.

A stench in the air;

The stink of fear,

The smell of blood

And the putrid odour of death.

Pointing fingers,

Accusations

The soft sound of hate.

Look elsewhere.

Point elsewhere.

I am innocent.

The front of the line.

A bony, brown back,

Scored by a whiplash.

A desperate scream:

“No!  Not me!

It was not me!

I am inno-“

A shot.

Silence.

I am next.