appealing

The Maynard
Fall 2020

Andrew Lafleche
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The Northern Flicker

There he was—griege headdress full stopped
by a Mars flame of nape           direct eyes
enshrined in cinnamon            the contrast
possible tragedy             high stature of calm
beneath each                  a stark indigenous mar
drawn across the carotid           piercing dagger bill
proud armadillo carapace over shoulders
onyx half-moon necklace adorning chest
an innocence dress     sequenced with sable
hemmed goldenrod, reserved of course, for
flight—in the meadow                 digging for ants.