a line runs down the side of the face
arcing just inside the cheekbone
down to the lever of the jaw
a fine point line traced by the most delicate
of stilettos, set in the faintest relief by pebbled light
fires are lit & graves are filled by
the kaleidoscopic moods of old white men
staring into mirrors
*
he’s never paid attention to flower arrangements
before; there are, perhaps,
books written
that open up a world of flower arrangement
a semiotic of rose and baby’s breath
a window
into this thing he didn’t reckon
this thing, this world
is there a world
beyond this face, beyond this mirror
in abstract, what even is a world
what even is this question
and how can that thing be called into question
by the language of flowers
the voice of lilac
the world on a tree lined street
buttercups, cabbage, and hollyhock
elms oaks and maples, a boulevard
*
and what is this thing language that
the eskimos have 42 words for snow
and snow isn’t one of them
and snow is still only snow
and war is always war
blood rivulets sprayed like
rose petals sprinkled
in inexplicable patterns
falling across polished pergo floors
so many gerrymandered allegiances
wildflowers flowing in comically illogical
washes
arcing just inside the cheekbone
down to the lever of the jaw
a fine point line traced by the most delicate
of stilettos, set in the faintest relief by pebbled light
fires are lit & graves are filled by
the kaleidoscopic moods of old white men
staring into mirrors
*
he’s never paid attention to flower arrangements
before; there are, perhaps,
books written
that open up a world of flower arrangement
a semiotic of rose and baby’s breath
a window
into this thing he didn’t reckon
this thing, this world
is there a world
beyond this face, beyond this mirror
in abstract, what even is a world
what even is this question
and how can that thing be called into question
by the language of flowers
the voice of lilac
the world on a tree lined street
buttercups, cabbage, and hollyhock
elms oaks and maples, a boulevard
*
and what is this thing language that
the eskimos have 42 words for snow
and snow isn’t one of them
and snow is still only snow
and war is always war
blood rivulets sprayed like
rose petals sprinkled
in inexplicable patterns
falling across polished pergo floors
so many gerrymandered allegiances
wildflowers flowing in comically illogical
washes