Kerri Shying R # 489 rubbed along the skin enough to bring

was it  red blood   that  called out Mars so close

or how my mother said     the scent    of

lemon verbena    loud enough to drown out

battlefields      mosquitos       the sound of

crying girls     one crushed leaf

rubbed along the skin  enough to bring

an army   sniffing round the yard   shields

round as wheels   dumped in piles under the gums  

Dad yelling out      get off out

the squeak of the screen door    while

the wall    got blood smears     for the pain