carries her body like a flag
to a table by the window,
slowly licks the long red spoon,
feels the hunger
of the leathery man in the “Jed’s Nursery” shirt
whose eyes have been taking
her in since she walked
through the door.
When she glances at him
I say, No! Don’t!
So she glances again.
I smooth my face. Slow
my breath.
Watch her unfurl.
She already knows
this
is not the world I let her believe in
when she still nestled next to me.
No Disney ride. No guards
at the gate.
Let her be safe
from now on.
Let Safety not ask that she fold
herself up, lower
her gaze.
