belladonna progression

{kigo}

aimed straight at the light –
belladonna lily stands
speared through violets

*   *   *

first flower

a trusting child, face upturned for a kiss
no, a starfish reaching for the moon
or lover's greeting, hands outstretched
                       no, someone letting go
a trumpet flares for summer's end, loud pink
a creamy throat explodes as calyx stars –
yes, stars; insistent and quietly, without fuss
                       eternal, like the rest of us

*   *   *

not really explaining anything to a child

shrinking –
a diminishing
a timid withdrawal

remember that mossy stone wall in the orchard
last summer where you touched a snail’s horn?
it drew back into itself –
that's shrinking



you almost saw it think
before eye-horn quested out again

you touched it a few times
it thought some more, and moved away


making a snail think
is like watching a battle-ship turn –
you know it’s going to happen but it takes so long

*   *   *

now shrivelled
edges crimped, purple
martyr to time

the other side of love
is the hardest part to learn

strangely still beautiful
 

©Mercedes Webb-Pullman