After a Long Drive

For Amy Dolinger

Silently standing, hoping that
something will happen.

Desperate prayers for the screams
of temptation to continue. Like

a box of dead baby birds,
unfortunate, but captivating.

It’s not enough to be warm
in a world that’s so cold.

It’s white lies in a confessional,
ghost orchids deep in a swamp,
broken squirt guns in the hands of kids,
daisies placed in a Jack Daniel’s bottle.

Still beautiful, still sweet.