you found her one day in an outdoor market
where bearded men sold elephant feet
there was straw on the floor
she was hugging her knees
she sat by a block-lettered sign that said “free”
and you brought her home
made her something to eat
gave her new clothes
and a warm place to sleep
and for all of your trouble
she left tacks in your seat
laced your coffee with poison
put glass in your meat
a flag that says “bang”
might pop out of a pistol
a “snake” from a can of peanut brittle
and where there's a girl by a sign that says “free”
there’s still a market for elephant feet.