A poem by Patrice Boyer Claeys
They flutter, shake like mystics
with the
creamy luster of
moonlight
their golden hearts
spinning
a spider web of cologne.
Into sacred geometries
wild bees
sidle
down
streaked flanges of their silk.
The result—
vanilla.
Often the greatest things
start
with
white petals.
Hear Patrice read her poem:
Note: This poem is a cento. Sources: Paisley Rekdal, Tim Seibles, Lee Ann Roripaugh, Alex Raz, Tui Scanlan, Victorio Reyes Asili, Joshua Meihgan, Peter Hargitai, James K. Baxter, Joseph Gordon MacLeod, Tommy Pico, May Swenson, Felicia Perry, Robert Milton/Holly Humberstone, Alice B. Fogel, Rae Armantrout, Michael Dickman, Tim Dlugos
Patrice Boyer Claeys is the author of five poetry collections, most recently Earth Cafeteria, a photo-poetry collaboration with Gail Goepfert. Recent work appears in Tupelo Quarterly, NELLE, Scapegoat Review, and North Dakota Quarterly. Nominated for Pushcart and Best of the Net, she can be found at www.patriceboyerclaeys.com.
Image:
White Flower by Di Maitland
This is very beautiful. I say this often when I visit A certain Age, that I so had the gift of poetry. Such lovely language...a spider web of cologne. sigh