OPHELIA OPINES ON THE SEEDS YOU CAN BUY
FROM HER SPOT IN THE GREENHOUSE LOT
SHE STRAIGHTENS HER SUN HAT WITH HAND HYPOTHERMIC
& DEADHEADS THE PANSIES IN PASSING 

COUNT DRACULA’S OUT ON THE CURB
THE ONE OUTSIDE THE SINCLAIR
HE’S SMOKING A SHREDDED-UP CIGARETTE
& KEEPING HIS CAPE FROM THE DUST 

JEANNE D’ARC AIMS WITH CARE & A QUIET PRAYER
IN A PAINTBALL GAME IN THE PARK
WITH CLOAK TRAILING SMOKE SHE STIFLES A CHOKE
& FIRES OUT INTO THE FRAY 

SCHEHERAZADE STANDS UNDER A SPOTLIGHT
IN A PRODUCTION OF INTO THE WOODS
SHE NARRATES & WEARS A FAKE MUSTACHE
& THE CROWD CRIES ENCORE, AGAIN  

THE ARCHAEOPTERYX AMBLES AROUND
FEATHERS A BRAMBLE OF BONE & BLACK DUST
IT’S SQUABBLING FOR SEEDS WITH THE REST OF THE RABBLE
THE PIGEONS & DOVES & CARRION CROWS 

THE GRAND DUCHESS ANASTASIA NIKOLAEVNA
NEARS THE BACK OF THE BLOCKBUSTER LINE
SHE HOLDS A NEAT STACK OF THE CENTURY PAST
& BLEEDS ALL OVER THE FLOOR 

IT’S A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-CICADA SUMMER
WHEN THINGS COME UP OUT OF THE GROUND
THE DEAD & LOST & EXTANT NO MORE
OUT OF THE WOODWORK LIKE WEEVILS
WITH EYES A DAGUERREOTYPE GLOW 

BECAUSE CARRYING THE WEIGHT OF THE DIRT
SHOVELED OVER COFFINS & HEAVY IN POCKETS
IS A LIFE-AFTER-DEATH IN-BETWEEN REST STOP
A TRANSIENT STAY ERE WE TOO TURN TO GRAVE DIRT