Pony
Actually, a whole traveling farm, a portable farm with rats and bunnies, chickens too? It was my sister’s birthday.
Baths
Unless my memory is playing tricks on me. The rats were white with blazing red eyes.
I’m translating myself from a time when I was sure.
Sex with strangers
The man leading the pony in circles was wearing a cowboy hat.
There was a big pink cake with purple icing and sprinkles.
Of being outside
I was too big to ride the pony. By then I was a young woman.
The smaller children took turns riding the pony around the backyard. There was a creek beyond the section.
I see flashes of our father
up to his knees in dirty water.
Lost love
My sister’s name written in M&Ms.
Smoke
on your best behaviour man cat fire two winds appear
who will win your body asks
sinking deeper into carpet
but time but cars pass
the contract eats itself and I stay in my skin
your body is wet when you’re sad
I lie at the centre a pool of oil
If I answer this call will the smoke rise?
are the ancestors
always watching?
this is my other
the quiet half eaten alive