Kindling

You are taught early how easily everything burns.
Good little girls should listen and learn.
Lie down in the darkness. If wiser ones stray,
forgive men their trespasses then cover, as Bibles will say.
Study their scripture. Pray, always, pray –
if you pray hard enough, follow ecclesiastical rules –
much more important than lessons of secular schools,
you might survive your childhood with an angelic glow,
skin sans scarification — though no would know
because you don’t show very much for fear of the flame,
the harsh consequences and indelicate names
for women, licentious, who start all the same
until shame dwindles some into ash
upon sanctified dirt, falling like