Jackboots

someone in the room
wore stiff, black
Jackboots
while the rest of us,
sock-footed,
lined our sneakers
by the door.

the man in those boots
soiled our clean, white carpet
and we
stocking-clad women
knelt to clean
his stain.

Women on Broomsticks

Women were tired
as witches
once,
by buoyancy
condemned.

The proof of innocence
is still
to star under.

Jane Dawson
Vancouver, B.C.