She Exists

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within a radius of joy which
leaves none untouched leaves none
except intertwined in her hair
or found in pockets with twigs broken
bramble the love she collects
lost fingers of trees and drying leaves

flowers grope for her ankles and she runs
barefoot among vines dividing the grass
hoppers which she brings in with
her shoeless and mudtipped toes
encrusted with earth and jewelry
human pottery she dances
aflame with vision keeping
men away a fiery radius
in the uncombed thought
of prairie

the birds will reply idly to her cry
keep their time for themselves

 

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1989