published in Stand, 8, 2, no.186, 2008

from Variations on Sappho 95

21

No wonder, Ms Dally,

the florist mistook your name for Mrs Dalloway

when you gathered sickle arm-

fuls of arum-

lilies, irises, delphiniums and lilac,

all that we’ve come to lack

since the flowering of modernism …  Stand,

as an urn and vase shall always stand

on your étagère and music cabinet

or a kitchen unit,

over-

flowering with flowers and with greenery leafed over

to the leaf everlasting.  Never endue

the sickly lotuses with their due.

Chris Preddle

last update:

e-mail Chris

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