Substitute

The pearls of his spine
came unstrung
at a bullet’s bite.
 
His regal neck
(that  Darling-
don’t-you-love-me?-curl)
 
just hung.
Two red dahlias
bloomed through white down,
 
dropped petals
on his chest, 
dyed the water maroon. 
 
                     -

I bring the brass swan
from junk shop
to bedside,
 
pack the wound
in its back
with pink plastic flowers,
 
say Yes, yes, I do,
each night before sleep.
In dreams I go
 
circling the lagoon
with webbed feet,
calling, calling for you.