A Person of Interest
April 14 2008


When the investigation commenced
there was little material evidence.
But as in most things,
it comes down to motivation
and opportunity
and dumb coincidence.
Not to mention former lovers and friends,
who drift apart
and intersect
and wander off again.

He was declared a person of interest
and told not to leave town.
They might as well have proclaimed him guilty
right there and then.
“Huh!”, all of us said
“a person of interest” — I’ll bet!

Yet isn’t this what we all aspire to,
to fascinate, to keep things fresh?
To make an impression
to catch her attention
and pull her in?
Or celebrity, at best
— even if it is
just 15 minutes of fame.

But in a case like this
there are no stray hairs,
no bodily fluids,
no finger-prints.
No hard proof, and nothing left,
except he came
and then he went
— a momentary ripple,
a stone dropped in a clear smooth pool.

And a sworn eye-witness
who either looked the other way in that exact instant,
or soon lost interest,
or cannot recollect.
Which is often how it ends
— an open file and a cold case;
then merciful forgetfulness.