water my flowers

they take
your neighbor away
in a squad
car, hands
behind his back,
cuffed.
cops are removing
boxes
and bags
from the premises.
guns
and knives,
they are digging
in the back yard,
dragging
the pond beside
his house.
dogs are sniffing
around
the fence
where roses grow
in thorny bushes,
but before they
push his
head down and into
the car to
drive him away,
he yells to you,
I'm innocent,
water my flowers
while I'm gone.
which makes you
wave and say okay.