Karen Friedland: High Heels

She stumbles along in high heels,

like a queen who wants to be taller than she really is,

in order to rule the sidewalks

and men’s hearts –

to beat out all those other dames

in this hapless game of domination in the city.

When all she really wants is to curl up like a cat,

catching breezes through the gumwood windows,

ink smudged on her fingertips,

her little black dog poised

to defend her against anyone and everyone.

—

Karen Friedland’s Places That Are Gone is available from Nixes Mate Books.

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