a bouquet of roses from the underside

-





beneath that crown of tangerine-tipped ruffles,
of saffron borders gently spreading
is a stem-stalk cluster, a Seussical forest
of tangled, mottled leaves bent over
one another. packed in for breath.
sprouting from browning trunks
that lighten as they lengthen
stretching

                 r e a c h ing

                                      s t r a i n i n g

for the bursts of color above.
undersides of an upside-down umbrella
reversed romantic love;
a matchmaker's mix-up.
what once wrapped my wrist at a dance,
what once you tossed at your wedding
wilts, waiting for when it will be
(once more) wrong side down
and right side up










****

photo & poem: 9.4.2020

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