A Consensus of Bouquets (for Sakineh)

In the garden a nunnery grows of sunflowers
in rows all nodding to themselves in solemn
agreement. They seem to be communing in
approval of an event unfolding, as yet unseen.

Under blossoms of gossiping jonquils are
clusters of belfries among others, early arrivals
in trembling anticipation of a jubilant union
of unanimous assent. Here, a mantis is poised

atop sun-stroked palm-smoothed ancient stones
stacked loosely, overlooking warmed earth-
bound cradles embedded deeply in the cultured
roots living below. On the cusp of indecision

are sanctions that lack sufficient intent surrounding
the wordless white rose of Iran, recently plucked.
Butterflies rising in swarms are hovering,
humming repeatedly, thrumming the spread

of good news near the temporal groundswell
of trees astir in celebration of the agreed upon
reprieve & we are beginning to hear the wings
of freedom beating. The unappeasable tender

of the plot is briefly assuaged by the pungent
scent of wild sage, content to be distracted from
the vacant nest of exotica. Earth-bound crow-clawed
jackdaws spring to the air, suddenly, as if sliced

from the ground by a saber or scythe, filling the sky
with darkness, while nearby a scaffold erected
to tie unruly tendrils down, stands aside with
slipknots withdrawn for awhile. Bowing

to a sighing wind are bleeding hearts united,
as a miniature cavalcade of bobbing lobelia
parade in blue sanctuaries of blooms growing
round rocks not thrown. Now the sun hangs low

& mayflies warn an early dusk in glowing columns
composed of twilight-dancers in fluttered demise
as night closes in on the end of their lives, unlike roses,
gifted with the fragrance of another day.