Viburnum

Walking by the community garden, an old woman
asked me if I’d like some stalks of her viburnum
which had blown over in the storm. She said

“You can remove these greeny bits, whatever
offends you, and give the rest a rinse in the shower.”
She said “My viburnum was unhappy about politics

which is why it blew over. It was saying
Oh what a world! What a world!” She said “Look at me
assigning opinions and sentiments to flowers

which probably don’t have any.” She said “This viburnum
hates the president!” Then I holding my bundle said
“My viburnum hates all presidents!” And she said “Ha!”

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Zachary LaMalfa is a poet and teacher from New Jersey. He currently adjunct-instructs courses in English and literature at CUNY.

BIRD