by Katharine Werthwine
inspired by Samantha Beatty’s demo-lesson
Pink is made of jellybeans and strawberry ice cream
Of sugar and spice, and everything nice
Of jam-stains on aprons and sticky popsicles sticks
Caught in the warm summer breeze
Of steady hands with careful manicures
Patching ballet slippers with blood-stained heels
Of flushed cheeks and new bruises
With tinged sneers — “You fight like a girl!”
Of raspberry leaf tea to cut the pain
Of a grapefruit growing
Of flimsy hospital gowns and ultrasounds
And a bouquet of sweet peas still reaching toward the soft setting sun