she walks on water,
ripples oiling under her prance
backstroking in a clear gulf
she sprints along the bank shore
or rather under it
as her bucket cocoons
sloshing
percussions
of her morning labor,
her shakes, rubs, scrapes
the beat of her toils
swaying that in-style, avant-garde container
her small head-hut
houses the sap of flexed forearms,
wrinkled brows, contorted cheeks
& pursed lips
oh, how they press
under saffron skies today,
the orange notes
pregnant with effervescence
seem to dance along the slit
of her philtrum
digging sweeping
tearing
into her mouth
lustful-like
with a virgin thirst
& a greedy throat
her parch
feels like baobab claws
scratching within a russet sandstorm
& something about that seems lovely
she flinches at the thought of pain,
the ache that accompanies
all achievements
& with the a gentle pull of her lips
to sing
it’s ah long john, she croons
& i’m ah-long gone from he-yah
it’s ah season
through & through
something, somewhere hmm—hmm
quelqu’un, quelque part
yes…hmm--hmmm
drowning months of silence,
as she carries her salvation,
soon packing these poignant memories
into an american suitcase
***
Mimi Ferebee is the editor-in-chief of RED OCHRE PRESS, overseeing the publication of both RED OCHRE LiT and ROLiT NEWS.
While originally from California, she resides in Virginia with husband, Melvin, and their Shih Tzu and Pekingese.
A graduate of the College of William and Mary, she received degrees in both English (emphasis in Creative Writing and Literature) and Psychology (emphasis in Behavioral and Developmental Science).
She recently retired a career as a clinical therapist to pursue her primary passions of writing and editing full-time. When not working on completing her novel “In the Distant Marshes” and various other literary projects, she diligently works to complete applications for doctoral programs. She wants to obtain a PhD in English Literature.
Mimi also works with at-risk youth, refining their reading and composition skills. She spends many evenings in detention centers and twice as many weekend mornings at libraries working with this population. She prides herself on being an advocate for her students, helping them not only perceive, but achieve their potential.