By Misti Velvet Rainwater
Date: 10 April 2000
Bright Bits of Cloth
banners
brilliant, beating
against the
whistling wind
I am crouched down
low inside
the dungeon
merry in mildew
nobody knows
they see the gay colors
from miles away
and assume
i am
a happy princess
smug
in
my
kingdom
the banners
lie
they might as well be
stripes on my back
worms in my mouth
but, no
they are bright bits of cloth
snapping away at each breeze
with fervor and grace
advertising my okay-ness
to the sheep
and vagabonds
numb, dumb subjects
a blue one
for the boy
who stole hot tarts
from my window
naughty lad
not bothering to leave
so much as a thank you note
a red one
for the boy
who pissed
in my garden
yellow for the fellow
who got drunk
and belched
at my banquet
I forgave him
and yet
he ran off
with the
milkmaid
purple for the king
who locked me up
in this castle
thinking perhaps
i would like
the view
brilliant banners
sing my praises
to the world
while I fester
in the darkness
of the colorless
dungeon
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