by Mieke Valk
inspired by Samantha Beatty’s demo-lesson
It is time for the peonies in brown paper to appear.
Each spring, the tight cotton balls of petals begin arriving,
ready to slowly reveal their fresh faces to the world.
Their petals stir and stretch, stir and stretch, until all is
Revealed, even their eyelashes. Their beauty is unmatched,
Except for the brown paper. If I could see you again, growing in
The rich, black earth in the midst of concrete and chaos,
gentle stirrings of a refreshing breeze tickling your petals,
I would not forget the beauty of your eyelashes again.