Florence Dale - Fv
Florence The Goat Lover – FV
She had a wicked laugh, witchlike
Bringing forth Gingerbread House Fright
She lived with goats
They walked through the house gladly
Front door was gone
She wore men’s clothing
Overalls, and she wore a black derby
Her gray hair stuck out in crazy ways
We were terrified of her
Florence, the Goat Lover gave us
Wild stories about black snakes
Curling around her tomatoes
She killed them with a hoe
Which she carried and shook at us
When she wanted to demonstrate
Her murdering ways,
She told us about hangings too.
She had seen them
In her days as a child.
We were mesmerized and terrified
Running out to be with her and her goats
Whenever we could as she walked between gardens.
The goat had a bell, which called us out of our childhood laziness.
The most interesting, frightening,
Terrifying non-woman-like woman
We had ever met, in our ten years of life.
Florence, our childhood hero.
She lived her life on her own terms,
Not caring about social norms or niceties.
She taught me it is okay to be me.
My childhood hero, who always
Shrieked a maniacal Tasmania Devil screech when she saw a snake.
Delighting us in her joy of a good kill.
Written 2-28-2019
Contest: What’s In a Name Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Kim Rodrigues
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