i water my blood-red dahlias

by j.lewis

resident mantis, thin and green
rises at the first drops of water
 
i greet him and ask how his day is going
tell him of my pain for the newest war
 
the bloody horrors of terrorism
echoed in these blood-red blossoms
 
he climbs eagerly onto my outstretched hand
cocks his head to one side, listening

 

 

j.lewis

j.lewis is an internationally published poet, musician, psych nurse practitioner, and the editor of Verse-Virtual, an online journal and community. When he is not otherwise occupied, he is often on a kayak, exploring and photographing the waterways near his home in California. He is the author of five full length collections, plus eight chapbooks. Learn more at https://www.jlewisweb.com/books.asp. j.lewis recommends RAICES.

 

Edited for Unlikely by Jonathan Penton, Editor-in-Chief
Last revised on Sunday, April 28, 2024 - 21:14