"One More Garden," by Margaret Atwood

[nightmarehippie]

In the garden, waxy jasmine
& hibiscus jostle, the chaliceflower
one fat petal, a creamy orfice;
the punky stems
bulge visibly into fruit
drop and are picked & sucked;
sex grows on trees, I told you.

Bananaquit, a squeal,
fingernail on blackboard,
at noon predictable,

and at dusk
slight pillowsmell of mildew
the waterdrop of secret
green throats, their clear notes.

On bare feet, fishbelly
white, I wince
over stubble & around
sheepshit, to hang the wash.

The walls crackle & sprout
ants & airy
lizards, varnish
peels of the ceiling, the sea is as blue
every morning as it always
was. In the salt air, hot
as tears, things manmade split & erode
as usual, but faster.

I should throw my gold watch
into the ocean and become
timeless. I'd stand more chance
here as a gourd, making
more gourds, as a belly
making more. Kiss your
think icon goodbye, sink memory
& hope. Join the round
round dance. Fuck the future.