poppies

• "spasms of paper red, disrupting a blockade

  of yellow bias binding around your blazer."
• "Sellotape bandaged around my hand"
• "smoothed down your shirts

  upturned collar, steeled the softening

  of my face."
• "I resisted the impulse"
• "I was brave"
• "A split second

  and you were away, intoxicated"
• "Later a single dove flew from the pear tree"
• "I listened, hoping to hear

  your playground voice catching on the wind"