Redemption

This poem also appears at www.poetry.com

Ask? Ask not what to ask. Redeem.
Guess!
They will make you a laughing stock.
Guess!
Yesterday I met Susan.
Guess!
-Susan, who lives in our back alley.
Guess!
Who is Susan? A name, a name.
Guess!
Susan: a name heard in back alleys.
Guess!
Susan who used to live an hour...
Guess!
A day, a week, a month, a year...
Guess!
A jubilee ago she lived; she died.
Guess!
I met and redeemed her. Guess not.
Guess!