Treat Me

by Jackie Anderson

If I had to mourn it
I would sigh deep winds
I would rub my face against
Weathered flannel,
 
If I had to mourn it,
I would only taste mangoes
But would expel all sweetness
From my body;
Wooded eyes can never fully close
 
If I had to mourn it,
I would bury it under firewood,
I would thrash my body against waves--
 
I would burn cloves
and feel the ash under
my skin,
 
Little branches would
hold me up
and
 
I can only mourn it
while stacks become dusted
and wiry fingers
pull feathers from me