purple roses
and blood red candy

a passerby
who knows the secret
you withhold from everyone else

they keep the confession
in their haunted spirit

lay it on the altar
make a wish for you in the fountain

somehow getting the thorny words out
I don’t wanna live anymore

makes you want to again

Selected byNolcha Fox
Image credit:nima maraghechi
Daniel J. Flore III

Daniel J. Flore III’s fifth book of poetry is WRITTEN IN THE DUST ON THE CEILING FAN and it can be found here.