page 209

Flora and Fauna

He watched me witness my own hands
Whorled wrung and open to flutter unfurled.
Hushed hear-say passed finger to finger,
Harbored heresy, palm foretold
A live forever then walk home,
A scream-strung sun streaming worship me.
Mess of snapdragons and scurf, day-lilies
Come hell-bent, bouquet of have my way with
Tied with twine and piano wire
Tuned to take that tone. In the blind

I meant don't take and flushed—fashioned
A thicket from twigs and hot glue, played pleaser,
Came seamless, cooed like what I see through you.
Came to his feeder and held my wings
Until, tired of purpling for the cause,
The awe-worn knees swore off swooning,
Unbent me to standing, told me of a bough
By the river bent to water. If he asks after me,
I'm now full and grown green—whisper
Can't miss me, body of blossoms, this yield.