Dorothea Lasky

Roses

                 I was much further out than you thought 

                                    ––Stevie Smith

I wasn’t ok

But no one cared

Beautiful and strong

Is what they called me

I answered the call

That’s what they wanted

Not waving but drowning

They waved back

The roses fell from the gardens

I didn’t even let the butterflies in

I latched the gate

Not waving but dying

So strong they said

They kept going

I waved

I was on my way

I was glowing

They waved

Not dying but knowing

I didn’t even let the butterflies in

They were drowning

I was on my way

To somewhere

Not waving

But drowning

Not waving

But dying

And when I wasn’t ok

The butterflies flew away

I didn’t even let

The butterflies in

Waving and dying

I latched the gate

The roses fell

From the garden

Not blooming

But drowning

Sky black and torn

No butterflies

I didn’t even let

The butterflies in!

The babies fell

From the sky

Not waving

But dying

The roses fell

They were blooming now

With open eyes