You’re Coming With Me
after the fall but
before the flood
I spent my time
pacing this wheat field
and practicing with my machete
getting ready for the worst
trying to keep my chin up
there’s a glass picket fence
meant to protect the crop
but I’m more worried about
guarding this wicker basket
it holds our last jar
of homemade salsa
the recipe too
handwritten and hidden
surrounded by other whispers
everything is usually pretty quiet
so believe me when I say
my veins flooded with terror
when I finally ran into a tiger
she had thin legs
cherry blossoms in her nostrils
a silver dollar under one of her eyelids
and no lipstick
one roar told me everything
“it’s over”
I ignored her
I know a trickster when I see one
she wouldn’t take no for an answer
“check the clock”
she insisted
in that moment
I was very aware
of how soft my skin was
I wished my flesh would turn into iron
her claws were razor-sharp lockpicks