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Seven Poems by John J. Dunphy

city street

the morning after

a violent protest

sanitation worker picks up

a crushed walker

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counting the new instructor

now two women

in welding class

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women’s self-defense class

only the instructor

without facial bruises

***

yoga class instructor

on her arm

Marine tattoo

***

his first “ma’am” since childhood —

officer replies to a question from

his new commanding officer

— All give published in the May 2021 issue of failed haiku

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John J. Dunphy

John J. Dunphy owns The Second Reading Book Shop in Alton, IL USA. Google him to learn more about this enigmatic person who is such a gifted writer and poet.