Daisies

You tremendous disappointment,
clutching the bone-dead stems of your daisies.

Your lips quiver, your eyes bulge,
a sad wrung-out tear disgraces you finally.

Your lace is tattered, girl. Your shoes are scuffed.


You, trying to pay for love with daisies.


-


Every precious moment counting jelly beans,
All three of them splayed on the carpet--
               Pinch the red one-- one,
               Roll the blue one in my hand-- two,
               Pluck the cat's hair from the perfect yellow one-- three--
Learning one-two-threes,
Only this has been done with as much care,
Walking through the hayfields, picking daisies there,
Interviewing each one, entrusting wishes to their buttered palms--
               White petals, soften my muteness.
               Clean, plain sun-scent, speak for me.