last night the wind said
be careful girl the
moon be watching
said keep your fingers
out the mud keep your tongue
in your head said the moon
is watching you said she’ll pull
you apart like the tide
when your time comes girl
rip out your womb like a second heart
drag it on the asphalt like roadkill
said you smell like roadkill
you taste like shit girl
said be careful the moon be
watching and she gone be mad
she gone tie you to the shed ’cause you
ain’t primp enough for no ribbons girl
you ain’t show girl you ain’t top breed
you ain’t pedigree girl
down girl bad girl sit girl
bangbang dead girl going
going sold just like that girl
the moon be watching so slow
down child said be still girl
said quit that noise
said stop that shine
said shuck that corn
girl she seen you bust the limestones brittle
do the tallgrass shuffles like dance moves
like prairie inferno hopscotch like shoooo
said ooooh girl stop playing
now smooth down your dress
and fold up your tail
and zip shut that grin
and pin back your ears
said the moon be watching you
said be careful said
swoosh and such said
heel girl said stay girl said die girl
This poem was originally published by Storm Cellar.
This poem was later republished and awarded by Pushcart Prize.
The Pushcart Prize XLI: Best of the Small Presses, 2017 Edition