Blue Bandana Email
Dear Big Brother,
I can't focus on much right now
except blue. Wonderful color,
especially as a bandana
around Belle Starr's neck. That's
what she says, Andy. Says her name is
Belle Starr. Even spelled it back,
and she laughed, tucked
my arm tighter to her waist.
I expected to see Cole Younger
muscling through the crowd
with a knife. L,
Randy
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Dear Little Brother,
Just walked from vespers. Beautiful
evening, slanted light, purple
clouds above pines.
All I got to say to you about
bandanas is WTF.
Belle Starr, Cole Younger.
Love,
Pluralism on Retreat
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Dear Pluralism, Danced with a ghost.
On the curve of her throat
below the bandana was a small,
white scar. She showed it
in secret. Scars are
private ballads. Whistled
at Bobby, arm around a skinny girl
from the wet t-shirt contest.
From the other side, Randy
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Dear Other Side,
Forget about Bobby and his
skinny girls.
I worry about you
taking up with blue bandana’d
women who think they're
lovers of long dead outlaws.
And that thing about
kissing the scar. Well,
is that a metaphor
Love
Concerned by the Fire.
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Dear Concerned,
Nothing meta-
phorical about scars.
They make twisted stories.
Love
Consumed by the Fire
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Dear Consumed,
Some scars are too deep
to see. They emerge
slowly like a mountain ridge
at dawn.
Love,
One Wound to the Next
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Dear One Wound
battery is dying
off to the ridge
before it’s too dark
to see
ttyl as they say
Still Consumed
Love Next
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