Harriet

floorboards creak
under the soles of her feet
out the door, off the porch
to the cool, soft dirt

morning sun has washed the night away
insects and birds are already awake
wind in the grass
an invisible snake

water bucket sloshes
dogs bark full of hope
firewood smells sweet
outhouse has no floor

time is an old baby
sucking bones sore
she sighs, getting up
studying pain no more

water, milk, and blood have been spilt
day just goes on unfettered by guilt
like tires on a road
done with where they been

on occasion road kill flares the eyes and the nose
everything slaughtered ain't meant for meat
butchers tell jokes while slitting throats
what people pay for they don't always eat

those left behind cry out from the woods
sometimes they laugh, teasing her mood
God hides his face to allow her the room
to bear the deep grief of the work she’s assumed

and this godawful pistol
in the pocket of her dress
takes the bullets she's fingered all night
loaded debt

when spent, surprised eyes won’t see the north star
but the driver, the shepherd, the puma, and wolf
her mother, her father, her husband and child
the pastor, the angel, the horrible truth

©02.09.17 ebn