Vinegar Tears// Milk, Maid

By Avalon F. Lee, 16 yo, Santa Clara, USA.

A war scene

soldiers on knees

not for stars and stripes

but

at the mercy of

riot gas

Vinegar tears

poison the pasture

soil to

damp ash

Vinegar tears

burn rashes on

ebony cheeks

Vinegar tears

cataracts

A leper whiffs dairy:

Twin jugs in Milkmaid’s hands

hands, raw,

from kneading swollen udders

he pleads, “Milkmaid;

milk, maid.” So, she

douses his spoiled face

Milk tears

fresh sight

Soldier, rise up and

take up arms and

raise up cardboard posters and

Minneapolis streets

a war scene