{The photo, given it takes, is of apple blossoms suffering from blight. Pea<3 }

Please note: I didn't give this poem enough time. Sorry!! Skip it, but please, if you will, check out 'The Belt,' which I am planning to post later tonight. It is a revision of the poem on this page which I believe makes clear that the poem is about a child being beaten with a belt with a heavy metal buckle. Thanks so much for being here. Being patient with me!

Leather, Men’s size 34.  Leather,
say a quarter of an inch thick.
Width, say an inch.   Buckle, two.
Buckle a souvenir she picked up
on a trip to Memphis to stick it to
the stick-in-the-mud she married.
Found the belt tucked way back,
thought, this will do.  Better hang it
on the back of the bathroom door
to keep it handy.  Big diamond
stands out, and a mockingbird.
Metal so shiny,  one look hurts.
Apple blossoms.  Apple blossoms
almost too small  to see are stamped
on all four sides.    Rage  flies
out of nowhere,  Go get the belt!
Go get the belt, I said!   Skin you
alive!!  Leather, say a quarter of an inch
thick.  Width, say an inch.  Buckle

(c) Phyllis Jean Green   July,2005