Armor

for escuela

When she was going to visit her boyfriend, Bill,

Cora always
Armored herself

In spiked bracelets,

Heavy black boots,

And courageous black t-shirts.
She always smiled around him—

A smile that was almost so gentle as to be suspicious against her
           Armor.

When she said goodbye to him,

She always waited until she'd driven a neighborhood away

To let her

Lonely tears
     F

A

L

L.