Tie me to the oak tree Let me run free, roam wild in the grasses that cover my scuffed knees, too many years have been spent crawling on all fours - waiting for forgiveness, As sunshine warms me - chilled bones fuse; I become stiff and lifeless, undone to the wind that rushes through my hair, knots of dirty love snared in golden tresses, When they come; men lined one after another, I lay silent on the ground - ready to give myself away, never the bride - no bouquets of roses for this retch, Mother made me wash in the cold stream at the foot of garden, to cleanse my pores of the stench of sex, yet no scrubbing could remove the stain ingrained upon my mind, red ribbons billow in the breeze - their freedom limited, tied to branches of the dead oak tree, let them tie me to her so crows may come and peck out my eyes, then I shall be free from seeing mocking smiles and curling fingers filled with lust. ©Samantha Ledger