His elbow pressed beneath her chin,

disagreement in the Bar I'm in,
the threat explicit
Still goes on the shrill harangue
stubborn in spite, strong in spirit
Danger in the whispers
violence in the eyes
Undiluted vitriol
in one another's teeth clenched cries
When does a stranger intervene?
When is the intensity too extreme?

We stare more intently at nothing at all

On a tv screen

In the bottom of a glass

Pondering, wondering

where right went wrong

And rights collided,

Private? Domestic? None of my affair
Violent? Abusive?
   How much do I dare to care?