***

tea

***

I ask her

has she brought

the baby.  sister

I have.  her other children

listen for cars

by the road.  the three of them

like dogs; distant, loyal.  I should say

good dogs.  they are like good dogs

your boys.  the baby is unwrapped.

it does not scream.  I ask her

does it scream.  sister

it does.  it puts its mouth

on the inside

of my belly.   the people in my dreams

have dreams.  I tell her

what nonsense.  I tell her

the dirt

was dirt

and our mother

I would catch her

eating it.

ii.

my quiet sister and her quiet boys

visit so little. 

you

like your mother

whose mouth

would deny

my fingers. 

         

       

***

are devil

***

broken tooth, top half; heart of a mime. 

a miner’s fork.

one glove, still.  one glove, not.

ghosts, arthritic.

statues of men pushed onto women.

statues of women, listen.  like pockets.  for coin.

sun on a stone.  stone in the dark.