A Wreath For Saint Valentine's Day

A WREATH FOR SAINT VALENTINE’S DAY A clew within this virgin card from the head Which you denied and now which gives you hope Has come to me. When you opened your mouth The scent of honeysuckle drenched my shoulder Your hair tossed, though neatly cut Still betraying my wild, rapturous caress Your eyes, that were soft, are now sharp - Knowing pollution, spoilage, missiles; Behaving with me with speech-robbing words, Soul-hurting cynicism, lethal logic. Now I’m staked to the ground, a paling Around my house where golden children Will never flower, who once flowered In your heart of satin’s reddest hearts. By Rosemarie Rowley