Indelible Stains

The actual act
the actual act of what he did
the actual act of what he did wasn't all that bad.
Well maybe, "wasn't all that bad,"
               ain't the right turn of phrase.
But I mean
               I know stealing is stealing.
Stealing is stealing in the eyes of the lord.
But there is
               shooting and robbing in a dark alley.
and there is
               nipping  a 20 from your mom's purse.
And what he did was more the second than the first.
The thing is
               the second comes with its own troubles.
               Like ducking everytime you see a red truck.
                              And goddamn it there ain't nothing but red pickups in this town.
               Like sleeping on the couch for a month
                              cause you haven't decided to clean the bed just yet.
And the helplessness of being violated
               by someone you knew and loved.