Upgrowth

Artwork by Elena Garnu

Did you see her?

The She
who carried the face
looking very similar to this one
before he knew we were over.

A rolled back version of me
no longer printable
beneath the mask
refusing
to be placed

when the date
had passed us by
in one too many
stealthy spring mornings.

If you heard
sullen whisperings on red nights
about where I buried her,
do not pay heed.

I like her better
when she’s tangled, and she
confided to me long ago,
her pinprick voice
scratching the Dogwoods

that she’ll only bloom
when she’s good and ready,
and that if I wanted so badly
to see dawn I best stop
counting stars.

I kissed her mouth then, stuffing her
full and deep
of my grape-leaves