Yellow Lotus

Yellow Lotus

at the Great Expectations-themed

birthday party scene, under live oaks
with Spanish moss the length of fine
young women hanging, i open a box
of white sun.

the wind plays hither zither,
Chinese parasol trees as soundboard;
we bow our heartstrings to a trenched turtle

who dug his way thru cool mud to rest

before the wild bearded iris,
which grows in clusters from a single stem,
with the cedar balls dangling yonder, wooden
as mothers lips when she notices our
tanned feet so silty, and you,
holding that yellow lotus.