..................Southern Superstition Poem by elysabeth faslund

Tin dripped sprinkles leaked puddles,
Watering Spider Lily, Narcissus blooms, roots.
Front porch steps lined white scents. Beloved.
Yard greened early Spring. Cypress, cattails,
Blue, water Hyacinths.
Needle lace rose curtains. Old eyes.
Cataract hazed brown.
'Tain't good a'tall. Not dis heah
Fall in thuh Spring. Spring in thuh Fall.
Bad. Bad Nights. Days.'

Misty fog Nighted one candle's dawn glow yellow.
One newspapered, walled room.
One bowl meaty rabbit stew. Coarse, sweet bread.
Cat winked. Dog curled. Beloved.

Emily's Morning.
Emily's Night.

Rattle, tattle, swish, tic, tic. Winds played
Screens' music. Black clouds tore starred skies apart.
Oak, Elm, Chinaberry trees bled leaves.
Mimosa pink fluffs flew.

'Emily...'
'Who out in dis storm tonight? '
'Emily...'
'Come on in. Come in. Dis ole woman not afraid.'
'Emily...'

One owl's feather floated before her eyes,
As a hawk's talon felt her heart.