The Animal
The Animal walks
on the hot sidewalk barefoot
It wears a sundress
with straps that tie into bows
on each shoulder, and it steps
over branches that have fallen
to the road. A stick pierces
through the meat of the Animal’s
foot, and it yells out for someone
else’s mother to help it, sings
a song to mend the broken
skin. The Brother rides by
on his bike and laughs.
*
The Animal wakes and thinks
it dreamed of the Hello Kitty Store.
It smells food in the kitchen,
but isn’t sure where
the kitchen is. At the foot
of the couch where it slept—
empty beer cans and the Uncle—
still sleeping.
*
When it first notices
blood on its panties
it is disturbed that
it isn’t red.
Instead a thick
brown clotted mess falls
out, and The Momma
says to get a pad.
The Animal fears
that everyone can
smell it. It takes
longer and longer
to finish a bath.
*
A girl from school
asks it to play sex.
They roll around
on her bed. One
is the boy
and one is the girl.
*
At a party The Uncle pins
it down to play.
He says it looks
too much like
The Momma. This is
the night it hears
Abbey Road
for the first time.
*
In the middle
of the night, The Animal
hears The Uncle
ask The Momma what
her bra looks like.
Outside in the van,
The Daddy sleeps
off too many beers.
The Animal is stuck
on the couch, head
under the covers,
listening to them
kiss. In its head
it sings the entire
medley from the
second side of the record.
*
The Animal pulls
the stick from its foot
slowly. A woman
from across the street
brings it her slippers
to wear. It walks
home struggling
to keep them on,
blood seeping
through the sole.
*
There is a wild
dog following
The Animal home
from school.
The dog smells
the musty blood
between The Animal’s
legs. When it weaves
the dog weaves, so it stops
still and just waits.