the armed guard is dressed

in 19th century floral

pink stilettos peeking in

a shadow of layered petticoat

 

folds separate the women

from the men and the young

paper coiled into tubes

 

a black helmet

upside down nests

a crossed smile

umbered and chained

to feet of an old plastic doll

 

an ivory cat reflecting

on painted boards

sky holes gaping

through serrated mesh

 

the flag wooden is tacked

to the white wall broken

in new foundations

bought tolled and taxed