Señorita Ruth

I grew up like a

wild west weed wan­der­ing
tall and round, spiky.
dried and hol­low, drifting.

shot out of loose sand home,
dull fibrous bit­ter green.
raises a stink when torn.

sun dries to a hard snap
pro­tec­tive, razor lances.
scrape skin, embed in nap

Lots, gar­dens, street edges
squeeze, wrenched brown dry while
winds woo the wiry wenches.