October 17, 2012Pacific Dogwood
This native species was dreadfully
scourged by disease,
like my own terminal body
the straight, smooth-barked
ascending branches
tipped by creamy flowers in April,
often blossom again in late summer or fall
unlike my own groaning muscles & putrid flesh
its wood is extremely hard,
pink, and split-prone,
limited by time and age I throb horribly,
the diabetes dwelling unnoticed in me
each twig
the large flower is attached to
is bent to prevent
overlapping with other flowers
and there are days
when my back bends down too
carrying the weight of ages
the creaminess of cataracts forming
the fall of my days are no longer green
from #23 - Summer 2005