![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/3bf4a7a4-a373-461d-907d-0bf391b32fb1/0/0/0/0,0,1500,2000,700,2000/0-0-0/cb9ad6e0-ad36-4efc-ba1f-c8d96c81a185/1/1/4268.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037606673~hmac=16fda73ba9dbc3f7223ecafac6013452e96e34a8a0ef3e32790c77d857aaee66)
like celestial beings, she recited each by name
andromeda, cosmos, asters, stargazers;
as velvety as the night sky
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/3bf4a7a4-a373-461d-907d-0bf391b32fb1/0/0/0/0,0,1024,682,700,682/0-0-0/2e37da78-5741-4ebe-9912-5cff1c97696f/1/1/IMG_3028_m1e8vi.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037606673~hmac=2d78391e70a2b72a5245aac6f4b5a500c67b81d7b148e79b5939c4cb05d593fb)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/3bf4a7a4-a373-461d-907d-0bf391b32fb1/0/0/0/0,0,2913,3038,700,3038/0-0-0/207a0cde-303c-4cbe-9c41-eb1efc74b8f9/1/1/PicMonkey_Collage_peony.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037606673~hmac=227309c3484503d6075302bcb2794b1fb0c3f2818cc8ebee31c6b4de2aa2690f)
stems danced between fingertips at golden hour,
artfully tucked into place
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/3bf4a7a4-a373-461d-907d-0bf391b32fb1/0/0/0/0,0,1191,1500,700,1500/0-0-0/54936448-9426-4963-af3b-b926331ac2a0/1/1/4041crop.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037606673~hmac=22702e631898e9b222e1b2c213ba611e2746d8cf9ba45f05d853742496c03e8b)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/3bf4a7a4-a373-461d-907d-0bf391b32fb1/0/0/0/0,0,1410,1880,700,1880/0-0-0/2402b568-35cf-456f-a01b-473423e12ae7/1/1/4116.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037606673~hmac=ef1a8ea494077e5ad9f3e55d774fdc1626b84f0c5ea3ef76aca09d388d22f423)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/3bf4a7a4-a373-461d-907d-0bf391b32fb1/0/0/0/0,0,2913,3038,700,3038/0-0-0/3167b9a5-b583-4ca4-8793-bda430a2e211/1/1/PicMonkey_Collage_flannelflower2.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037606673~hmac=227309c3484503d6075302bcb2794b1fb0c3f2818cc8ebee31c6b4de2aa2690f)
plucked one by one, a childish chant
he loves me, he loves me not
left with a lonely trace of pollen
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/3bf4a7a4-a373-461d-907d-0bf391b32fb1/0/0/0/0,0,3150,2100,700,2100/0-0-0/7792cb63-42c1-4003-a752-c91bc409ba2d/1/1/4217.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037606673~hmac=1b6030b05b40377fde7923a331629da0733326801517999ce33c678ccb199aeb)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/3bf4a7a4-a373-461d-907d-0bf391b32fb1/0/0/0/0,0,1429,2000,700,2000/0-0-0/ccf7ad6b-49c2-4f57-b620-565b69acd8cf/1/1/4158.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037606673~hmac=3dc3977de0fd1c1fcc896805eabc4bb5beede985e6617b1e33fb35b3f8f189f6)
growing towards the light,
its petals closed upon dusk
ready for slumber![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/3bf4a7a4-a373-461d-907d-0bf391b32fb1/0/0/0/0,0,2157,1535,700,1535/0-0-0/e29e9b16-4b03-4b18-be9b-7c7d80bfb4f0/1/1/PicMonkey_Collage_pink.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037606673~hmac=63b09be6faefe773cf9e9a7c635f6c74962b626a03d642d8a9bd42d9891f2838)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/3bf4a7a4-a373-461d-907d-0bf391b32fb1/0/0/0/0,0,1434,2008,700,2008/0-0-0/63d7a718-bea0-4e47-b05b-0a9b1adcd486/1/1/4077.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037606673~hmac=9af276d8a548c887e80f7516a7400d7f94a15622bbbb3b5a84c95930aaf355d9)
a balmy sweetness
once boasting silvery buds
fades to dusty hues