Tender perennial

Red Canna, Georgia O’Keefe, 1924

You, stranger,
beside me
on the hard, wood
bench, lift your eyes
to the canvas
mirror on the dead
white wall—my garden
plot, my solitary
blossom bed. Petal
portal flames
feral red. It is always
summer here, and every
color layers fire, even
chalk-white curves
and fecund violet.
Fix your gaze
on these naked pigment
tongues. Taste the heat
of honey yellow
filament. Feel
the room swirl
pollen gold. You,
stranger, beside me
staring at your feet,
lift your head, let the oil
brushstrokes breathe you
back to life.

Ellen White

Ellen White is a poet, writer, and contemplative arts teacher living in southern Maine. Retired from a career as an information technology manager, she now offers writing workshops and leads retreats that combine meditation, movement, and writing. Ellen holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Lindenwood University and has been twice nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Suspended, her first collection of poetry was released by Cathexis Northwest Press in May 2023. Visit her website at ellenwhiterook.com.