Mirror Deprivation

Angela Mayhew

Raping the woods at dawn
sun spears splitting the wrinkling tomb trees
a cloak of malignant darkness lifting

favoring Father's footsteps
gazing at our paved path in the foaming moss
every step of pride drenching my spirit

raised as replica
a feminine heir teething tractor nails
trusting a rattle snake necklace

conscious deeming the predator
tension spraining the stride
razor breath arresting our ears

down in a trickling ravine
swallowing the curbed foreseen reflex
blushing the trigger

a morgue of a monster
another trophy glance at me
our return marched esteem

Angela Mayhew is a student at Santa Monica College