Lilies

In arranging Easter flowers, there is
ambivalence for me -
the translucent pearl trumpets
with regal curl
to hold the sacred tone
just on the tip.....
strangely have no sound

The startling smell caught unaware
of source exact
so sweet, but over sweet, into decay
Is it death or life we celebrate?

The strange, orange pistons stain
every hand they touch
and every garment near at all
with an indelible mark - of what?
Of earth, of heaven? Are we lost or saved?
for something's surely changed -
here is some mystery still.

Lilies are for Easter
and will be arranged
as best I can. They have a power
yet for my dead
I would choose another flower
to be sure of what it said.

^

Biography

I am the wife of David (Electric Acorn 7 - short story) the mother of John (Electric Acorn 8 - poem) and of William (published novel, "Zombie, You My Love," La Questa Press, 1999) I was one of "the Grogan girls" and take credit for adding the Irish love of the word into their creative souls. My short story, "The Summer of the Penny Dolls," was published in the literary journal, The Potomac Review, Summer issue, 1998.