Shannon Ryan

Wake

Your eyes, pumpkin seeds, harvest
the moon, a halved orange. My nose
chaps; the night trembles. Disoriented,

I follow the map of your skin. Let me
bouquet your city, peonies
peeking around every corner. Carmine

camellias adorn the crown of your head. Sprigs of azalea
to return the precious pink to your blank lips, perfumed.

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Shannon Ryan is studying visual art and creative writing at Salisbury University. She is the managing editor of The SCARAB. Her poetry is forthcoming in Asterism.