The flowers offend me because

they are filthy– their roots
scraggly with dirt

And the sky offends me because
it is bigger than I and how 
dare that sky dwarf me?

And you offend me because…
well just because.

I think you like flowers
I think you like the sky.
You must be one of those

Sympathizers?

Beware, I have the ear of the rabbits who run the field

Their noses are atwitch to every offense.
They may look like they eat lettuce

but that’s the legs of those who have offended me.

Those are the flowers. They’ve already eaten the sky.

Beware and goodbye.

 


 

About the poet:

Joe Weil is an assistant professor at Binghamton University. He has been published widely. His most recent collection of poetry is “A Night in Duluth” (NYQ Books).