Futile Resistance

Heated irons.
Searing hides.
Marking ownership.

Cattle tackled.
Wrestled down.
None volunteered.

Bellowing out.
Protesting loudly.
Futile resistance.

Burning coals.
Elijah’s lips.
Marking ownership.

Elijah tackled?
Wrestled down?
Willing volunteer?

He bellowed.
He protested.
Futile resistance.

Richard L. Brewer