Buttoned

circle of a moon, in black, four-
holed for the threading, so many

buttons, those with shanks and
those without, the nubbins of

loose threads, curling, brushed away to
the floor, buttoned boots, and

aprons, the first buttons on a
sweater, made of abalone shell, sewed

with pink-red thread that bled
when it was washed, the button

on the doll's dress, this doll,
buttoned and unbuttoned, put

them all on to take them all
off, and again, buttoned up

into a dress that is a floral field, a
pattern repeating down to the hem, the

making and unmaking of her

fastening, fast, of a button at the neck,
and, again, she smiles