here is the rose that cost me everything
he said
if only you had asked for peacock
diamonds, castles of aftermirage-sweet
dresses of orchid embroidery from the floss of
hummingbird wings, Viennese
tortes for breakfast lunch and dinner-
a brace of Firebirds
the end of human suffering;
one more golden breath...
here is the rose red as blood
that should not mean
what it means now
how could you know
what I know
and still live
tomorrow is a rose-red ship
breaking apart mid-
harbor
on a calm day.
while spectators gather
mary angela douglas 30 november 2009
