Alleluja

Modern poetry modern verse contemporary poetry contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem

She carried daisies (marguerites), the flowers

Of Chaucer’s love though “showers sweet” refrained

From hurting her or wedding light.  Those showers

Were kind as whiteness, whiteness never stained.

The lilacs that she wanted, purple, pale

And lavender, and white could not be found

And so the bride’s bouquet was white.  The grail

Of innocence was what she drank.  Around

Her stood her man and sister and . . . dark trees.

The Maytime trees were dark against her spring.

She did not feel the checkered, pressing squeeze

Of life as if it held no hidden sting.

  Instead fresh Mozart filled the air.  Both sad

    And lovely he, she thought, and turned to glad.