Gone Into the Woods Directly
Laura Van Prooyen

If you had known her, you might have
stopped her. Said: it’s only
an Osage orange. But she

seemed already to know
the thorns when reaching to gather
the brain-shaped fruit. You

might have said: beware
the red roof, take a big stick
there are dogs on that road.

She may have answered: I’ve seen
a black snake, also the bull
and tangle of fern.

And if you had known her, you’d know
she would say this
and still
decide to go running.

© Laura Van Prooyen