Violante

by Elizabeth Evangeline

For Ariel T.


Foxtrot violets diamonte violets fresh violets
Violet in her sundress Violet in the tomato patch
with her ripe cheeks face peeling like a potato
eyes sparkling with wet stem

polyp thick & wet onto the fields' ground
coffee-yellow stars behind the football stadium
green lymph in the dirt turning & smiling

diamonddog Violet rube-faced the new sinister
posters full up in your room
three biographies underscored invisible in ink touch
Violetta Violetta celebrating to accordions and
dancing your jewelry like a lucky date

Violet Violet for whom the string
chubby vowel sounds along the howl & grunt of ink
bring you your peonies and catgut
bring your lunchbowl & silver yes-horse with joy