SAY IT WITH FLOWERS

First published in June 2022

Think of a man
with a rose in his hand,
a yellow rose, candle-flame petals
scorching the afternoon.

Think of a man walking the street, his bright flower
a torch. See him try to kindle lovelight
in implacable eyes.

'Don't pester me!' the woman snaps, turning.
Think of a man stamping out the ashes
of a flower, petal by petal.