clean yes
but not looking my best
after a shower
I need a petal dryer
the sun
some primping by the wind
my face needs lifting
to hold proud and high
for the public reveal
I must bloom my best
you know how critical
passing eyes can be
of the littlest things
a petal out of place
the slight slump of a shoulder
some bug on the stem
they notice is not your friend
I heard this idea that what’s in the frig says a lot about who you are lots of leftovers say you hold on to things cuz you might need them nearly ripened fruit whisper you like to wait for the perfect
the green mangoes in my yard are in a hurry to gestate a promise these children of a tree are pushing up delivery of another birth their buttery sweetness into the cribs of mouths to showers of ooohs
but not a close one he has his own residence nearby and calls if he needs me otherwise I feed him once a day leave him his life and he leaves me mine my two dogs are far more trouble than he is though