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Floral Dissection
by Courtney Bates-Hardy
Floral Dissection
My heart is an exploded peony;
lilacs spring up in my guts.
Each rib, a delicate daisy—
the petals touch, just so.
The air is heavy and sweet in my lungs,
those pink, folded tulips.
Two petals seal my lips
against trespass, but secrets grow.
My arms reach to pluck one honeysuckle
and taste sweet nectar on my tongue,
but I find my hands are made of leaves,
each finger too green.
Courtney Bates-Hardy
Courtney Bates-Hardy is the author of House of Mystery (ChiZine, 2016). Her poems have been published in a variety of literary magazines, including Room, Carousel, and On Spec. Her work is forthcoming in Collective Unrest. She is currently working on her second collection of poetry.
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