La Belle Dame

Sensible shoes.
A book on her lap
every moment
that mother isn't
hovering near, full
of instructions.
She closes the book
and combs her hair,
imagining herself
beautiful although
she knows better.

The bodice of her
dress is too tight,
a dress sewn by
her mother, who
upon pricking her
finger with the needle,
let the blood
flow into the fabric,
saying, Now part of
me is with you
wherever you go.

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