HARVEST DATE

Meeting a small fraction
Of her army of lovers
 
Harvesting redbud
Red hairs pulled by branches
Cackle giggle
 
Past barbwire brambles
And mountain mahogany
Pockets of pepperwood
 
All manner of triggers
And levers
To take
The blood sacrifice
 
Tripped in
The medicine field
Raked
By a thick branch
 
Nature is
A sharp-toothed dog
 
Bubbles as thick as leather
In the bogwater
Like bull kelp heads
 
The willow stand
Await their turn
To dance
 
Rainbow babies
 
A wreath of poison oak upon her head
Miss Native America
Triumphantly carries
Her golden green
Bouquet