hung

a boy would give me roses
i hung upside down

sterling silver     almost thornless
sheathed in lavender tissue & bow

in a week they dried
stacked in bins

in shed stockpiled
laid mini coffins

blowing at fallen
eyelash     i rationed hope

maybe                    this time
he will stay

clenched leaves
buds drooped their chins

stems petrified
abandoned by boy

i sailed over
river of mummified roses

eternally entombed
no chance     to bloom