The battle was brutal and losses were high. Ralph the Brave, Robin of the Forests, and me, Ariane with the Golden Fingers, were the only survivors on our side. But we had no time to mourn the fate
...
[+]
Sugar-girl
cherry-cheeked
(double dimples)
freckle-kissed and sweaty:
pavement-scraped sanguine-elbows
dusty soles
blackened like cow-pies.
Baskets (crab-apple
stomach-aches
(lucky-day) wild-strawberries
ant-ridden
ruby-reds):
knobby climbing-trees
(sassafras,
tick-bites)
home for supper
(with sweet tea).
First in
freedom.
Big-girl of first-in-flight:
rotten-teeth
yes-ma'am
no-sir
Sped up, dropped drawl;
same dimples.
No trace of red-necked girl,
new place with real winter;
stinky-tar
turf-grass
snow-boots
dirty-slush;
haven't smelled
sun in weeks
(stale air, plastic Christmas tree)
cicada-less
summer.
cherry-cheeked
(double dimples)
freckle-kissed and sweaty:
pavement-scraped sanguine-elbows
dusty soles
blackened like cow-pies.
Baskets (crab-apple
stomach-aches
(lucky-day) wild-strawberries
ant-ridden
ruby-reds):
knobby climbing-trees
(sassafras,
tick-bites)
home for supper
(with sweet tea).
First in
freedom.
Big-girl of first-in-flight:
rotten-teeth
yes-ma'am
no-sir
Sped up, dropped drawl;
same dimples.
No trace of red-necked girl,
new place with real winter;
stinky-tar
turf-grass
snow-boots
dirty-slush;
haven't smelled
sun in weeks
(stale air, plastic Christmas tree)
cicada-less
summer.
7