Prairie Girl

By Annie Freewriter

Colorless 50’s photo
a child
hermetically sealed

Fading small against Junoesque
pine
Cradling basket-less
Moses doll
Softly smiling
sideways glancing
Plaid, pleated prairie dress
disguising tom-girl legs
Honeyed tidy braided hair

feigning sweet, demure
Clydesdale heavy, clunky shoes
claustrophobic feet
Drenching in sweet prairie grass
Chomping at the bit
Shoes shed, running free
little mare, flying braids
Captured in pure innocence
Bursting out mercurial
Spirited, lively
prairie girl