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Writer's picturePatrice Boyer Claeys

They flutter, shake like mystics

A poem by Patrice Boyer Claeys


Close up photo of a white flower.

They flutter, shake like mystics

with the

creamy luster of

moonlight       

 

their golden hearts

spinning

a spider web of cologne.

 

Into sacred geometries

wild bees

sidle

down  

streaked flanges of their silk.

 

The result—

vanilla.

 

Often the greatest things

start

with

white petals.

 

 Hear Patrice read her poem:


They flutter, shake like mysticsPatrice Boyer Claeys

Note: This poem is a cento. Sources: Paisley Rekdal, Tim Seibles, Lee Ann Roripaugh, Alex Raz, Tui Scanlan, Victorio Reyes Asili, Joshua Meihgan, Peter Hargitai, James K. Baxter, Joseph Gordon MacLeod, Tommy Pico, May Swenson, Felicia Perry, Robert Milton/Holly Humberstone, Alice B. Fogel, Rae Armantrout, Michael Dickman, Tim Dlugos


 

Patrice Boyer Claeys is the author of five poetry collections, most recently Earth Cafeteria, a photo-poetry collaboration with Gail Goepfert. Recent work appears in Tupelo Quarterly, NELLE, Scapegoat Review, and North Dakota Quarterly. Nominated for Pushcart and Best of the Net, she can be found at www.patriceboyerclaeys.com.


Image:

White Flower by Di Maitland


 

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1 Comment


This is very beautiful. I say this often when I visit A certain Age, that I so had the gift of poetry. Such lovely language...a spider web of cologne. sigh

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