An Irregular Line
open air mart—a breeze ruffles
and gathers the skirts
of plain blue and grey dresses
black woolies, stove-stacked
above flat, brown or shoes
of black that slide through
shuffled sounds above unkempt walks
small, round white caps cover plain hair,
tied and secure beneath delicate chins
a small defense against poor weather
an irregular line of birth-widened hips
hidden beneath toddler's hands
light blue or white-swaddled babies
between row after row of yard sale goods
the restless, sounds of hungry children
and an obvious, occasional
horse-drawn cart
World Haiku Review , 2004
