Contains three animals. Two,
a feathering variety, one, not yet
discovered by men.
Inside, a pocket only she knows
about. Inside the pocket, a locket.
Inside the locket, a picture of her
mother, 1937. Inside her mother’s
eye: a ship. A ship that will, three
years later, take Gram from pocket
into dress. But Gram is not wearing
that dress. Gram is wearing an exquisite dress
that is the only of its kind.
The main colors are blue
and turquoise, but the feathers are not.
There is leopard print involved.
For, in another dress, Gram has seen
a leopard in its natural habitat.
They became friends.
They became best friends, but Gram
did not want to leave her love, Jude,
or his wife, Honey, or their child, Lady.
Gram does not have favorites, but she does
have loyalties. My loyalties are to Gram and her dress.
Come, Gram, let me see the way the animals dance in the mountain wind.
You are my favorite, but I’ll make new friends.
Cameron Haramia is a California-born Hoosier, who can be found on the dancefloor. He’s danced his way to Memphis, Mexico, and marine animals. Haramia’s poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Rabid Oak, Construction Literary Magazine, Leopardskins & Limes, and Mobius: The Journal of Social Change.