An Elegy for the Phoebe Caulfield of the South
Bring back damp, green summers,
days of lifting rotted boards
to catch the toads that dwell
in soft mud, squirming with worms.
Bring back fireflies in mason jars,
bring your bell curls as blonde
as blonde could be.
Bring back flowered bathing suits
that unwelcome grass weaved its way into.
Bring back mothering baby dolls and playing House.
Please,
bring it back.
I want to see the watermelons painted on your toes at six.
Gin a body meet a body
In clothes too large because you borrowed them at ten.
Comin thro’ the rye,
With makeup smears because thirteen is too young.
Gin a body kiss a body,
With cauliflower hair and sandy skin.
Need a body cry?
I want to see your innocence
untouched by him.
I am the catcher in the rye, and I wish
I could have held you.
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Kayla Haas is currently enrolled in the creative writing program at Stephen F. Austin State University. Her work has appeared in The Stone Circle, Humid Issue 4, Circa Review, Humid Issue 5, and is forthcoming in Blue Lyra Review and The Story Shack.
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