Magnolias

There are some days
Alive in me
More alive than me
In those days

Bleeding into the lake
Is a blood-red paper corsage
Once you said that you hated all flowers
But for magnolias.

You never cared
For the finer things, for linen or fancy cars
And the sweet summer hymn of violins
Played in your ear like nails on a chalkboard.

I never could understand your words
Though we shared our fair share of blood
When you said you looked forward to death
Who were you putting on?

O Heaven
I've dreamed you
For such a long time.
Heaven is a lake
Inside a crystal bowl
With tea lights and magnolias
Floating on the water.
Forever and ever:
As far as the eye can wander.