Thelma

Her daughters
wrapped their arms
around a melody first,
blankwordsforspacBirthed
cradled the song
against the softness
of their breasts,
blankwordsforspac like a child
infused the harmony
with the rhythm
of their heartbeats,
blankwordsforspacalive
nurtured a verse
into existence
like a newborn child,
blankwordsforspacbeaten and wailing
then ripped that song open
on its way past tongue and teeth,
exposed its truth in the open air,
blankwordsforspacshivering
so only the blood
of the music was left
dripping in affected ears.
blankwordsforspacwet and wriggling
Too many of her daughters
injected, snorted, or swallowed
a new truth for themselves
blankwordsforspachoping to return
and for their children; almost all of them,
now, as silent as shadows trembling
under tapping toes
blankwordsforspacto mother's gentle darkness
struggling to keep time.