I stood in the earth's skull & swept my fur skirts clean, I grew tall & taller, shed the dust, shed supple hunch, crown of wild dandelion & ate it; humid breath stretched my weedy neck & bent my arms into scythes: blue-tongued & sharp-mouthed, I stood between beasts & thorn trees & waited:

O

I heard a howling, but did not run I heard a howling, but did not run I heard a howling, but did not run

too fast, afraid to combust &

afraid I won’t.