she walks on water,
                 ripples oiling under her prance
backstroking in a clear gulf

she sprints along the bank shore     
                           or rather under it
as her bucket cocoons

sloshing
                 percussions
                 of her morning labor,
                           her shakes, rubs, scrapes

                 the beat of her toils
swaying that in-style, avant-garde container

her small head-hut
                 houses the sap of flexed forearms,
wrinkled brows, contorted cheeks
& pursed lips

                 oh, how they press
                           under saffron skies today,
                           the orange notes
                           pregnant with effervescence
                           seem to dance along the slit
                           of her philtrum

                 digging     sweeping

                           tearing
                           into her mouth

lustful-like
with a virgin thirst
                 & a greedy throat

her parch
feels like baobab claws
                 scratching within a russet sandstorm
                 & something about that seems lovely

she flinches at the thought of pain,
                the ache that accompanies
                           all achievements

& with the a gentle pull of her lips
                                     to sing

it’s ah long john,  she croons
                 & i’m ah-long gone from he-yah

it’s ah season

                 through & through

something, somewhere hmm—hmm

                 quelqu’un, quelque part
                 yes…hmm--hmmm

drowning months of silence,
                 as she carries her salvation,

                 soon packing these poignant memories
                 into an american suitcase

***
Mimi Ferebee is the editor-in-chief of RED OCHRE PRESS, overseeing the publication of both RED OCHRE LiT and ROLiT NEWS.

While originally from California, she resides in Virginia with husband, Melvin, and their Shih Tzu and Pekingese.

A graduate of the College of William and Mary, she received degrees in both English (emphasis in Creative Writing and Literature) and Psychology (emphasis in Behavioral and Developmental Science).

She recently retired a career as a clinical therapist to pursue her primary passions of writing and editing full-time. When not working on completing her novel “In the Distant Marshes” and various other literary projects, she diligently works to complete applications for doctoral programs. She wants to obtain a PhD in English Literature.

Mimi also works with at-risk youth, refining their reading and composition skills. She spends many evenings in detention centers and twice as many weekend mornings at libraries working with this population. She prides herself on being an advocate for her students, helping them not only perceive, but achieve their potential.

Her literary work has been featured recently in several journals, magazines and reviews, including Contemporary World Literature, Bewildering Stories, Decanto Magazine (UK), Both Sides Now, Flutter Poetry Journal, Leaning House Press, Caper Literary Journal, ChickenBones: A Journal & Houston Literary Review.

Look for upcoming publications in James Dickey Review, Taj Mahal Review (India) & Black Magnolias Literary Journal. Also, her full length poetry collection, Seraglio, will be published by Patasola Press (Fall, 2011). Mimi’s essay “Devil in a Blue Dress and Cinnamon Kiss: An Exploration of African American Financial Insecurity and its Impact on Psychological Development” will also be published in the fall by Psychedelic Literature, while her “Is Your Daughter Planning to Sell Her Virginity: On the Road to a Notion of Feminism” debuted in April 2011 in TawdryBawdry.