He binds you naked to a barren tree,
balletomane, smoke rings. Squinched eyes still sting.
Patient philosopher of cruelty
purchased boxed tulips to watch you practicing.

Pink areoles against silver bark,
a cloak, brunette falls from your center part,
he lifts, licks pink outlines of shark teethmarks
bound ballerina drowning a mermaid heart,

aquarium he’ll breathe to life. Stage door,
rapport is loud — intimate anonymity.
Escapes a womanchild in haute couture —
downcast dark eyes expect no family.

Sidewalk girl, smaller, off the stage, he sees.
He offers hands and walks to barren trees.

© Kristin Garth

Kristin Garth is a Pushcart & Best of the nominated poet from Pensacola and a sonnet stalker. In addition to Constellate Magazine, her sonnets have stalked magazines like Five: 2: One, Yes, Glass, Anti-Heroin Chic, Occulum, Drunk Monkeys, Luna Luna, TERSE. Journal and many more. Her chapbook Pink Plastic House is available from Maverick Duck Press, and she has another Pensacola Girls from Bone & Ink Press. She has two forthcoming: Shakespeare for Sociopaths (The Hedgehog Poetry Press Jan 2019) and Puritan U (Rhythm & Bones Press March 2019) from She also has a full length upcoming Candy Cigarette from Hedgehog Poetry in April. Follow her on Twitter: (@lolaandjolie), her weekly poetry column The Sonnetarium and her website (kristingarth.com).