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The Tallgrass Shuffles

Sea Sharp

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