I never see Georgia O'Keef's
oriental poppies without seeing
those blossoms as flares. Bursts
of orange fire against a cobalt sky
suddenly squirted into a black night,
giant explosions rocketed above
our dark fields and stacked city
geometrics, their razzle shattering
small hopes, dazzling earthbound
expectations.
published in Bellowing Ark
©2009 Bonnie Manion