the maiden



the life blood in me dries up

in my spot on the mantle

but I guess she puts me here

because the quality of sun

is correct—she does not think

of the air vents above,

in this way she is like a bull


my arms are so thin they shake

she likes me best

of all the houseplants

because my shaking seems

most alive


she comes to inspect

the baby green shoots

but there are times I think

she wants me to die


when the decided day to water

passes she looks at me

tuesday wednesday thursday friday

surprised I am still waving


my fried yellow leaves;

some days entering another room


she enters June

goes through

the door to paris



Christine Kwon writes poetry and plays with cats in New Orleans.

Mark