When Princess Katie goes walking in her
falling down shoes
When Princess Katie goes
walking in her falling down shoes
she expects to slip.
She knows her crown, gown,
and shoes
are not easy to wear. It takes practice and loving
what it feels like to fall down to stand with such grace.
When Princess Katie goes
walking in her falling down shoes
she sleeps better.
Her blankets heal her
bruises.
Her dreams bring her visions
of women
she’ll want and will to be.
When Princess Katie goes
walking in her falling down shoes
she commands the attention deservéd
of a Queen.
Half the world watches in
awe of her beauty,
half the world watches to laugh at her failing.
When Princess Katie goes
walking in her falling down shoes
men and boys get lost in watching.
When they see her slipping
they want to save her
and keep her from her feet.
But when Princess Katie goes
walking in her falling down shoes
she gains in strength.
Her feet grow steady
and she only walks further;
traveling, rather than standing still while she waits.
26 West
The blue Toyota was wounded
but running,
less one headlight,
leaking anti-freeze,
and glowing in the steam.
A baby in the back seat
screamed.
A boy about ten,
stood staring,
shifting his vision from the truck
to the road,
from his mother to me,
from his brother to me.
I followed his eyes east
to the elk.
She was fat with life and
dying.
He knelt over her,
stroked her head and nose,
placed a hand on her withers,
calmed her beating belly.
The woman yelled, “Get your
brother! He’s screaming!”
She was nervous and shaking,
like control was something she thought she could hold
onto.
He brought his brother from
the truck,
walked him over and held him next to their mother.
His father stood with one
foot on the bumper,
leaning on his knee,
shaking his head at the shadows
standing in the steam.