Purposeful
I.
Red hat pulled over ear, the one with the point
mother says is lucky.
Green constricted breathing
amid Eucalyptus trees: yellow-gold t-shirts flushed cheeks chest burn
to ½ mile mark.
Red. Spots on a white suit shirt, bare cheeks in air, policeman
Blue:
Stomach reaching the bottom. Bristle, Bristle. Cemented skin.
Mermaid with hair wiring behind……….
II.
Its tendrils rake, say no to feeling beautiful, cut
yourself off at the neck. In startling ways perpetuate
tightness in chest, stomach, washed out local
anesthetic through front parts.
III.
Brown-eyed girl
Break this break that.
Don’t take ballet.
Don’t be a waitress.
Dance with grandma: “You’re such a big girl.”
Skin thickens as if hunted.
Don’t play music.
Give up.
I say give up, crown her.
“Why is this complicated?”
IV.
In a house
Of her own
(Sheltering)
With new model
(Aspirations)
Black on fingers
V.
Why have eyesight for gray?
Why change the sheets
twice?
Why buy more food?
Can’t tell where
the power button is
but she’s a butterfly
on my eyebrow.