a woman had placed 

after jorge luis borges

a yellow rose
in a hotel glass
the man had kissed her
on the neck
had kissed her
on the mouth

but these kisses belonged to yesterday
there would be no moment
of revernalization

yellow roses came from china
open in may before our hybrids
unfold pink rugosities and baroque scent
expose dusty fissured yellow pearls
Credit

From Hairpin Loop by Anne Blonstein. Copyright © 2007 by Anne Blonstein. Reprinted with permission of Bright Hill Press.