King of a Lifeline

1.

One day she appeared with a brand

new blue dress on, she returned to

the woods to be just with herself:

when she found herself again, she lay,

watched the stars twinkling between the

swaying, tottering leaves of the trees

around her world:  it was in the last

days of summer, her summer, it gave off

a fecundity that was pulling, pushing her

into sleep.  It was a moment of such peace

that if she were to die now she would not

hate anyone for it:  in fact she would be

pleased.  She was ready to get up and get

re-dressed when she heard a twig break:  she

knew right away immediately that it was not

an animal making its way somewhere, oblivious

to her and what she was doing:  she raised up

on one elbow.  She waited.

2.

She was all too aware now that she

was still undressed naked, put her

hands over her large breasts:  the

weight of a human being released the

broken twig.  She heard the stick,

gave out an almost imperceptible

sigh:  

3.

she stood, dressed.  She felt

the person moving away from her,

went in the direction of the

movement, began running in the

same direction:  when she was

out of the woods she was alone:

there was nothing but the crops,

crickets:  telling her things she

did not want to hear.