girls shift in circles on the grass
like stars of mountain laurel,

white umbrellas – white skirts
and pollen swallowed up by

bombshells in the sky –
fireworks melting into field,

bees stoking bitter honey
at the coast of the Black Sea.

little bridesmaids – wind chimes
in their fists, slivers of wood

hanging from strings. hollow spoons –
their limbs like narrow leaves. one

flower a gentle, freckled salve. another,
her sister, waving off the fading

traveler – his burning lips, his newly-
failing heart – his accidental hemorrhage.