here she comes, the Pythia
crabbed hands fused
to a narrow pair of follicles

[of no precise origin]

halts at the side of the gorge
cramps over her swollen abdomen –
her floral tube vomiting blood

[riverbed toxin
tolerates drought & inundation]

starts up again on trembling stalks
batting off ghosts

[narrow therapeutic index
heals nothing/nect
ars nothing]

eyes weeping milky sap
skin charred and scorched

[poisonous when ingested
can kill a m
an or horse]

YOUCAMEFORAPROPHECY DIDN’TYOU

dogsbane breath
her macerated stench
the feathery corolla at her mouth
flecked with bloodied spit

her voice a waspish bark

LISTEN ICANTELLYOU
EVERYTHINGTHEREISTOKNOW ABOUTBITTERNESS
HOWYOUCANFORCEITDOWN TILLYOUARE
POROUS/POISONOUS/TRANCED

SEIZURES/SEIZURES

HOWMYHEARTBEATSIRREGULAR
HOWTHEWORLDPALESANDFLICKERS
HOWASAGIRL TENDER&EVERGREEN
ISANG BECAUSEILOVEDTHESUN
&THEYWREATHED ME IN FLOWE
RS
&BROUGHTMEHERE
&TOLDME ITWASHOME

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