Mary Ann Poem by David McLansky

She's an interesting wonder
With her hair of long harvest yellow
And her white Madonna face,
Dimple dumpling chin and full white cheeks;
A very rugged big white horse;
When she laughs she becomes embarrassed by her manly sway;
A family girl and very overcoming brave
Who wants much
And wonders at the stops:
To give but not so much to feel;
Her eyes,
The long buried pain of disappointing smiles;
'Oh, please, ' she says with a pained tilt of her head;
A Plains woman of stone-like strength;
A gravity in each awkward pause and gesture
With a weakness to be wanted,
And yet, at a moments notice
Ready to cut off and set adrift;
A Lachise Madonna,
Great towering Cossack,
White girl of very purple passion,
Purple blue with not caring.