Blackbirdan online journal of literature and the artsSpring 2012 v11n1
poetryfictionnonfictiongalleryfeaturesbrowse
an online journal of literature and the arts
archive
 print preview
back BETH BACHMANN

restriction

If peony means binding, it’s shameful

not to witness the wind mill through them til

we’re short of breath. For a thing so submissive,

they have a way of holding our attention

by offering no closure: year after year

we cannot smother.

Black, in nature, no overtones, comes only at death

and after, the peonies remind us, big and satisfied.  end  


return to top