Kerry Andrew
the maple
The park bench is mahogany-damp
and rots beneath him. A ring-collared dove
drunkenly rolls its tongue and the drizzle
prickles the back of his neck as
his hands cradle air, their possessions
snatched in an eye-blink.
His cheeks are starchy with tears.
The maple, a mass of scorched mauve,
shifts above him; He can see her
every nuance in each branch.
The way the leaves slow-dance
like the languid sway of her hip;
the way the wind, in veils,
lifted the fronds of her hair;
the gloss and gleam of black cherry skin,
her proud colour;
her shy butterfly lips as he coaxed
honey from her, oaky and bittersweet;
her exquisite rage, shaking him
in her raindrops.
An autumn inches starved fingers
in a spiral up the maple’s spine;
it flares, fiercely blazes, and is
shattered of its burnished blossom.
He trails lonely home,
eyes glued to the sky’s tears.
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