Pink Petals Tumble from the Envelope
 
 He writes to tell me cherry blossoms 
sweeten the air between us. Pink petals 
tumble from the envelope. 
 
He writes of Virgil, cruelties, widows of dead heroes. 
It’s all war and the fecundity 
of blueberries.
 
Why make plastic birds when real ones are right here singing? 
he writes. Toy soldiers? 
 
I understand he only loves 
the ruined earth. Let us 
go singing as far as we go.
 
He writes, Above all I trust bees, they sting
then give me honey.
 
We spar the edge of love.
I send honeyed fingerprints.
He sends downy feathers from a robin’s nest.
I send the breath of autumn as it arrives.
He sends a 5-7-5-7-7 tanka.
 
This is his 42¢ way out but I won’t have it.
I send soil made rich by voles.
He sends the nest, dismantled.