To Shirley L. Ledford
by Theo Villepontoux
you went into the van
seeing only a man
you could not understand
the existence of a plan
he drove you over
round the other corner
so no one would bother
your ensuing torture
in order to get away
from the end of your stay
all you did was obey
to survive the next day
as the hours passed by
and you tried to comply
by the look of his eye
you knew you would die
and when he was done
and had all his fun
you just wished for a gun
so you could succumb
taken by a monster
my poor little flower
you came out of nature
without any power
seeing only a man
you could not understand
the existence of a plan
he drove you over
round the other corner
so no one would bother
your ensuing torture
in order to get away
from the end of your stay
all you did was obey
to survive the next day
as the hours passed by
and you tried to comply
by the look of his eye
you knew you would die
and when he was done
and had all his fun
you just wished for a gun
so you could succumb
taken by a monster
my poor little flower
you came out of nature
without any power
Theo Villepontoux was born in France but has moved around most of his life. He has lived in Taiwan, Germany, and the UK. He holds a degree in English and History from Exeter University. His work has seen a few publications, including The Templeman Review, Wingless Dreamer, and Ariel's Chart. As of right now, he works in a Strasbourg school as a supervisor.