The Girl Next Door Knocks at the Door

A garden rose is her desire, being

herself an ancient species, flesh and treacherous

but pink and practical, eyes

forget-me-not. We snip a rose

that's opening, petals lipstick-smudged.

Strip thorns--no vicious prick

shall send this princess off to sleep a century.

Your bud needs water, I say--go

stick it in a glass. She loves me she loves me

not she strips each velvet petal off

discards it like a losing card. She loves me

not. Click clack the shutter of her smile--oh neat

white teeth! Roses in her cheeks!

Skin deep is deep enough for me.

                                        (Partisan, 2016 and Hunting the Boar, CBeditions 2016)