Poem After Listening to Philip Levine
after this
everything becomes a grease stain
in a field of tired hands
caught in the rain
where the paradise of youth
just boxes you in
until you can’t breathe
you lick memories from your fingers
to fill your stomach in the late afternoon
until the blood from a day’s work tastes like honey
until flowers that should be sweet
just seem flawed
& that’s exactly
what you like about them.
About the Author: John Dorsey is the former poet laureate of Belle, Missouri and the author of Pocatello Wildflower. He may be reached at archerevans@yahoo.com.
Image Credit: Chase Dimock “Yellow Daisies” (2023)
As It Ought To Be 