The neighbors complained
Complained about the smells
the malodorous odor of rotting flesh
The neighbors tried to help
The neighbors called the police
their warnings falling on deaf ears
No one listened, Excuses were made,
“Well she’s a drug addict, she can be anywhere” or
“He is an army vet, harmless and polite” or
“He is a politician, he would do no such thing” or
“he is a good-looking white man, why would he lie?”
No one listened and the smells
the smells permeated through plastered walls,
emitted from beneath living room floorboards and backyard soil
men missing, teenaged boys missing, black females missing
No one listened

Yellow crime scene tape surrounds
An apartment building and two houses
Forensic folks in their Tyvek Michelin man suits
loading boxes into awaiting vans and pick-up trucks
removing a deep freezer, 55 gallon barrels,
remains being collected and placed in black body bags
33 teenaged boys, 17 men of color, 11 black women
Cleveland, Chicago and Milwaukee
three men, 60 victims

The neighbors complained
Complained about the smells
the malodorous odor of rotting flesh
The neighbors tried to help
The neighbors called the police
No one listened, no one
Listen to the neighbors
Listen