Folds

Unfolded from woman, this poem of mine, of truth
on virgin white…

news that is skewed, ‘alternate facts’
offered as truth…

Socially-distanced in mind and body
masked, paper bags obscuring vision…

but a body held
strong, defiant, the folded arms questions the falsity
of words…

of centuries of blood and body sacrificed, the blue of the
settler’s eyes reflected in the sky…

the lace of the dress, alluring
frayed, skeins of beauty and bondage,
folded in the steel of woman…