Mother's Home Ritual for Quenching Fires
Unwind your garden hose……..Lady bird, lady bird
……….lay it across the insatiable lawn
………………..do not turn it on
Drink wine from a jar
……….shake the dregs
………………..into your palm
……………………………………..fly away home
Bathe in a tub without water
……….walk into the kitchen with your eyes closed
………………..stare at the horizon
……………………………………..your house is on fire
Build towers of ash on the walk
……….the vacant swings
………………..the back seat of your car
……………………………………..your children are gone
Borrow sugar from a neighbor
……….let it melt in the driveway
………………..give away your matches
……………………………………..all except one
Write the fire on your laundry list
……….set it aflame
………………..watch the name curl into ash
……………………………………..and that's Little Anne
Dine with firefighters
……….wear a sundress with nothing underneath
………………..say a prayer to St. Barabara
……………………………………..for she has crept under your warming pan
Steady your hand above a basin or water……….Lady bird, lady bird
………pretend to read your fortune there
………………..pretend you are not thirsty.
by M.L. Brown
from Blackbird; Vol 8. No. 2