One Cleft Moon
The pretty girl’s neighbor drank her beauty like wine
Kept her in his breast pocket for slow days
when he danced with her silhouette
to the tune of the Tennessee waltz
Alone behind curtains he imagined her waist
fitting into the crux of his arm
and she said bring me more than I asked for
So he carved a cleft moon into her bedroom door
protecting her from dreams
of minotaurs creeping on little minotaur feet
without permission or even some small regret
He gave her a red ribbon to tie back
the noose of her gladness
Stroked her black coil of braids
that fell like a tar bridge across his fence
She danced in the twilight with just her shimmery whimsy
so bright was her gossamer shift of unparalleled shine
The pretty girl knew all the words to his songs
and cried out to show him the keen flutter
of her vermillion heart
Her kindness flooded his rearview mirror
where he never looked back to see her
caught like a butterfly stuck to a pin