Becoming Iron<\/p>\n
High above the hustle
\nof the Brownville Projects,
\nbullies find Mike\u2019s solace:
\na rooftop walk-in filled with
\npigeons named for boxing greats.
\nIn his hands, Mike cradles
\nhis prize racer, Mongoose,
\ncooing as the bird pecks
\nseed from his lips.<\/p>\n
Lemme hold it,
\nthe big guy says, and wrenches
\nMongoose from Mike\u2019s chubby
\nfists. The sidekick chuckles
\nand the bullies pass the bird back
\nand forth, take turns pushing
\nMike away, laugh as he pleads
\nwith them to thtop it.<\/p>\n
Mike almost holds in his squeal
\nas they pop the head off Mongoose,
\ntwisting its cap as easy
\nas opening a soda bottle.
\nThe big bully shoves
\nMike back in the coop,
\nthen throws the limp bird at his soft
\nchest and walks away smiling.<\/p>\n
When they\u2019re gone, Mike raises
\nhis arms; palms open like he\u2019s addressing
\nhis congregation, and commands
\nthe other birds out of the coop.
\nFeathers flutter in the air like dirty
\nsnow, and Mike slumps
\nagainst the back wall, crying. He wipes
\nhis nose on his sleeve and vows
\nto take the head off every fool
\nthat tests him.<\/p>\n
He\u2019ll start with the tips of their ears.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Aaron Counts<\/a> has written and read with professors, prisoners, high school dropouts and national book award winners. He is a teaching artist with Seattle\u2019s Writers-in-the-Schools program,<\/a> and his non-fiction book, Reclaiming Black Manhood<\/em>,<\/a> has been taught in area jails, prisons and juvenile detention facilities. He holds an MFA from the University of British Columbia.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Becoming Iron High above the hustle of the Brownville Projects, bullies find Mike\u2019s solace: a rooftop walk-in filled with pigeons named for boxing greats. In his hands, Mike cradles his prize racer, Mongoose, cooing as the bird pecks seed from … Continue reading