“I write, erase, rewrite / Erase again, and then / a poppy blooms.” – Katsushika Hokusai

 

I mow the backyard,

lulled by white noise. My mower

shreds my poor poppy.

 

My pharmacist turned

my poppies to pills my doctor

counts every month.

 

I keep a poppy

for a pet. I’m addicted

to my puppy.

 

I hate the poems I

write so I erase, rewrite,

and smoke opium.

 

Blooms named Leopold,

Harold, and Allan — the books

oh, so addictive.

 

Write, erase, rewrite,

Katsushika Hokusai,

again, and then, bloom.