Show don’t tell
Don’t say people get off on power
Say he licked his knife blade clean
Don’t say a tie is a symbol of status
Say he pulled his tie taut between white-knuckled fists
Don’t say he was privileged and benefited from good connections
Say his swimming medals clinked together like coins
Don’t say he is depraved
Say he smirked several times during a 5 minute police interview
Don’t say he will get off.
About the Author: Hilary Otto is an English poet, teacher and translator based in Barcelona. She reads regularly in Barcelona in both English and Spanish, most recently as part of the Berlin International Poetry Festival. Her work has been published in Popshot Quarterly, Black Bough Poetry and Fixpoetry, as well as in anthologies.
More By Hilary Otto:
Image Credit: “Portrait of a Man” Unknown Artist (about 1850) Digital image courtesy of the Getty’s Open Content Program.
As It Ought To Be 