VICTIMIZED

   Serena’s car was stolen at the park
   where she had gone to study and relax
   on Sunday afternoon, an easy mark
   for someone studious in such attacks.
   Perhaps he saw her keys beside her purse
   and snatched them while she looked the other way
   or maybe, more insidious and worse,
   this was a stalking game he’d learned to play,
   connected with some syndicate of crime,
   a racket with a manual of rules
   to teach con-artists how to choose their time
   and pick their prey and make them feel like fools.
        The worst effect of being so victimized
        is finding both your faith and trust downsized.

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