With a flick of her wrist,
the master magician rescues them from oblivion,
makes them reappear every spring,
dancing in profusion on lawns and street corners.
Their sweet, thick fragrance fills my nostrils,
wafting from perfume dabbed on slender necks.
Their dimpled smiles, youthful thighs,
hair tied back with a pink ribbon,
greet me on my morning walk,
dissolve the band of fear constricting my heart,
give me hope that one day
we’ll learn to emulate these generous beings,
freely giving ourselves to one another,
knowing we’ll never run dry.
—
Ralph Dranow works as an editor and poetry guide. His website is https://www.ralphdranow.net. His most recent book is At Work on the Garments of Refuge, which features his poems and the poems and artwork of his late friend Daniel Marlin. Ralph lives in Oakland, California with his family.
