It had to be
in May when the grass
could never be greener,
not even in gentle June
or lush July
I saw the girl in the green
spring coat.
Only a child model
in that intoxicating zone
between homely and divine
as crisp as celery,
as dangerous as absinthe.
No matter who is posed
besides her, she will never pale
although she is paler than a garden variety ghost
a hidden scheme, a shameful scene, a spurned dream
in May when the grass
could never be greener,
not even in gentle June
or lush July
I saw the girl in the green
spring coat.
Only a child model
in that intoxicating zone
between homely and divine
as crisp as celery,
as dangerous as absinthe.
No matter who is posed
besides her, she will never pale
although she is paler than a garden variety ghost
a hidden scheme, a shameful scene, a spurned dream
no one left to derise her.