Braids

poem by Kristin Garth

This poem was previously published at Vessel Press and received a Pushcart nomination.

My hair’s a twisted fairy tale that ends
in bondage, maiden impaled. Braid around
your knuckle wrapped, across armrest bent,
attention rapt. Like me, my hair is bound
for use, arranged, with care, for amorous
abuse. Not free to fall, a virgin’s veil,
but reined, restrained, ribbon detailed. A bow
for Daddy, plastic ball, a bare fishtail,
a stilettoed crawl. Chateau window,
climb raven rungs, up hair to heart
forever young. Entwined, erotic ride
cajoled with handlebars in fists, jumpstart,
controlled. All pleasure, plaited amplified.
Every happy ending we have ever played
began with mirror, brush and brunette braids

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Kristin Garth is a Pushcart & Best of the Net nominated sonnet stalker.  Her poetry has stalked magazines like Glass, Yes, Five:2: One, Anti-Heroin Chic, Former Cactus, Occulum, Luna Luna, & many more.  She has three other chapbooks Pink Plastic House and Good Girl Games (Maverick Duck Press), Pensacola Girls (Bone & Ink Press, Sept 2018).  She has another forthcoming, Puritan U (Rhythm & Bones Lit March 2019). Her full length, Candy Cigarette, is forthcoming April 2019 (The Hedgehog Poetry Press). Follow her on Twitter:  (@lolaandjolie), and her website (kristingarth.com).