out back among the tongues of dreamed anthurium the muumuu rises
torn and pink in a mai tai sun its paler cotton wintering folds of cling
subside as mother ways of French toast gardenia drought evaporated sweat
and acetone minnow-thick humors of river and night terrors live low
in wilt of lux gathered cloth flesh-filled swish and plain song lost
sleep and wake of her in the dress shoulders wet with sink-washed hair
heavy with damselflies and pearl-like snails shampoo smell of lawn meeting lawn
whole families swapped lives mid-mow mid-clothespin mid-air
hems weed-wet one dish glove washed out to sea to wave signal us
girls who might lose the apple tree from between our shinny legs
and land in evening gown glitter and debris