we are myth
we are legend,
behind fences we are found
bred and sacrificed on all hallows eve,
generations past
gutted and carved in celebration,
so misunderstood seen only as decoration
as human skulls on poles once where,
unlike my wild cousins in mexico
scattered over landscape and mountain,
they do not suffer the tampering
of our genetics
79 loci,
phenotypic slides for frankenstein,s scientist
altered , inbred,
not realizing our beauty
in shape and color
palmate leaves , long tendrils
unisexual flowers touched by gentle bee
curling about stamen
stroking with long legs
collecting pollen my yellow stain
peponapis body thrumming
resonant on my petals,
10,000 years of domestication
treated worse than dogs
compliant in nature as man knows best
our flesh substance forgotten
as gourd display incised and flensed
to amuse and terrify
projects of another’s nature
that is more disturbing and cruel
velvetmedia 