pioneer woman bled as they walked, a reimagining of pioneer children sang as they walked

Alternate Poem 2

after “Pioneer Children Sang as They Walked” — pioneer women bled as they walked

Pioneer women bled as they walked and walked and walked and walked.

Pioneer women bled as they walked and walked and walked and walked.

They bled from the womb and they bled from the breast,

And silently bore the weight of the west.

Pioneer women bled as they walked and walked and walked and walked.

Pioneer women bore as they walked and walked and walked and walked.

Pioneer women bore as they walked and walked and walked and walked.

They birthed in the dust, and they severed the cord,

And buried afterbirth deep in the ford.

Pioneer women bore as they walked and walked and walked and walked.

Pioneer women buried as they walked and walked and walked and walked.

Pioneer women buried as they walked and walked and walked and walked.

They buried their babies in shallow graves,

And marked them with stones that the prairie gave.

Pioneer women buried as they walked and walked and walked and walked.