Leela.
Dave calls her strong.
I have my doubts.
She appeared
Friday afternoon
as if by magic
looking good
in Oregon woods,
a Hawaiian orchid
transplanted
in a tight
striped shirt.
Leela, she said,
and the world
didn't end,
not even when
she applied
bottled aloe
to upper arms
burned from falling
against a lantern
the night before,
nor when
she crouched
by the river
scrubbing
pans
with sand
smiling
at the knife
in her
hands.
She caught
a ride
w/ Josh
& Sarah,
drained 20 cups
from Bagby
to Seattle,
refilling from
the keg in back
of silver Sub-
aru wagon.
Blacks out,
passes out,
left in the front
seat after we
get home,
Josh steps out
for a cigar-
ette
and does-
n't
come back.
Dave says
she's strong,
fucked-up Hawaiian
who even though
buck naked
& drunk
could fend off
5 hillbilly de-
generates
and get
back up
laughing
after
jumping
into an empty
hot tub.
sep 30 2001
bagby hot spring, OR