-1France, 1918
Young French brides have watched
the walls of their country peel back

from the structure of their supposed lives.
In their husband's absences they have

learned to kiss fig leafs deeply, they have
readied themselves to make love

to the elm trees, not for pleasure, but so they
can take hold of something stronger

then they have to become. With shaky riffles
propped against the kitchen tables

for protection, they can only be effeminate in the night.
afterward, the world will say:

There is no equal of the French housewife
in economy and efficiency.