Audio: Read by the author.
You would miss it if you were hurrying.
If you were harried or the day was drab.
It’s tucked between two old brownstones, now
a defunct pet store, a pop-up for sneakers.
Take the stone path back. It’s so narrow—
the leaning greenery like sticky sleeves,
sunflower above, like a lighthouse, the ocean
aroma of yellow hibiscus. But what are they doing.
Two cops, in the back corner, under a lime tree.
Hooded figure between them—what’s your name.
You stand there and they stand there.
Snapdragon. Hollyhock. Daylilies ablaze.
