By ZoE
Date: 14 August 2000

Spine Shake

Poppies open as dusk settles
and roads narrow as cars pass slippery turns
Truckers steer carefully, eyes wide open from coffee
or hard liquor it almost doesn't matter which as they
blow clouds of powdery smoke from marlboros
and dandylions scatter over the interstate where bridges become
junctions and turnpikes narrow to roads
where framilies eat two course dinners at the counters of eat-in kitchens\
and somehow I am still walking on traintacks
side tracking the real dilemma
sun masks the shade of my confusion
because I hear mother's words ring in pink ears
that 'ugly ones grow bitter and ugly things are not keener
,ugly boys become meaner'
and I cannot help but run away from pretty boys with their bibles-
sent to convert me
pretty boys with their hearts still intact
because while trees still wave in autumn breezes
that shake my spine (I was just feeling comfortable with summer, when...)
I see the picture I want in my life
like an X-ray
I see perfection in the ways you
may not look perfect but
you are so good
it feels good
I feel brand new
and alive
again

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