She said hunger was a beast
and I wondered what other demons
she had tamed
Between breast cancer and her chickens
Her father worshipping the ground her mother
walked on while favoring
Tina Turner’s legs
Did they both wish the way
they danced was enough?
Were they both more jealous of the pavement?
Breaking their backs against the cracks
to shape themselves into who they really are
Cursed to hunger for a man’s affection
Now here she measures
yard by yard
fabric that covers other people’s legs
who measure up to a standard
maybe she hopes to reach
I hope to reach it too