what burst through bulbs planted
in another season burst through
someone’s angry mind while I slept,
perennials caught in a cycle,
tulips circling a tree down the block
weren’t even there yesterday, the bullet
she didn’t see hit her, didn’t remember
when he swore to get back at someone
who hurt him, dormant for years
shot out one day for no reason,
connections that don’t connect
drawn as I stood admiring the tulips
aren’t they beautiful, a passerby said,
and wondering who planted those bulbs
the fear I woke up with this morning
what are you waiting for
words meant for someone else
that keep coming up, and the tulips
the beautiful tulips
