Lily

Direct sun is bad billet for cuttings.

Lily was long-stemmed, 

half drunk

half honest

night-starred

giving head to a bottle in a graveyard.

She never chose her own tattoos--

just once born, once baptized, 

seven times left crying  by the roadside.

Lily likes her Ginny with Georgia lime.

O Lily fair, Lily bright,

gives all her love 

to a runaway cat

and salts her bath with anything white.

Lily used to pose on a coffin lid

half sweet

half willing

 half live, half dead.

Long-stemmed Lily talking out of her head

to the peonies out by the garden shed. 

Of course she loves you,

tap-water blank with soft pale hands.

Lily fair, Lily bright,

long-stemmed Lily in your circle stands

almost straight

almost strong

almost saved, and almost 

gone.

_____ 

for Camera FLASH! at Toads.

Medieval

There's no need to go all medieval on my ass.
No need to fetch out your thumbscrews if my hemline's a little high.

Suit yourself, summon your churchman, he's a fine one.
He's fit to burst, and all I've got to say is that a tonsure and Latin texts
Never made any girl give it up.

Yes, I was at the May fair.
My little son ran ahead of me, laughing at the stilt walkers
And the fire eaters.

Later, I held him by the hand,
Until he begged to be carried. When I settled him against my hip,
He was as hot as a dying star.

I ran home, calling to my husband to bring water,
But he was already dead upon the straw bed,
And my other darling did the same under a red moon that night.

Heave your battle axe and split this stone--
Inside, you will find my heart,
For all the good it will ever do you.

I have been with a thousand men,
Including your churchman, who I made pay me double.
You, I'll do for free, just to give you the French disease.

There's no need to go all medieval on my ass.
I am already damned for all time, not because I've whored,
But because I loved.
_______

for Real Toads photo challenge, featuring the fab Mama Zen. The photograph is hers.

Merciless

NBC has announced that it is cancelling my favorite show, the hospital drama "Mercy." I'm so disappointed! At least I'm not alone. I have been looking at forums and cyber petitions about it, and A LOT of gals just love the show and are as disappointed as I am. I'm gonna go cry now.
___________