she wakes rise and shine
in the queen’s anne lace

girl in lingerie and choke-cherries
girl silky for touches in the meadow
her antlers budding velvet

no four-chambered heart
just an heirloom tomato.

girl in the pollen, with a bellyache—
thorn stuck above her pubic bone
she didn’t go down easy

girl with a pretty mouth hole—she ought to run now
from the bad thing lurking      run into the bark moss
                   milkweed and screech

she best be on her way
hurry up now, sweetie
pack up your money, your hard bread

the meadow rustling, awake
girl with a home to get home to
before the day’s dark girl with a head start
                           tomato heart aflutter.