Terre Verte
The ripe red
tomato was green first
and will
return to green earth
when the
pink and red flesh
fades to
feed next seasons baskets of fruit.
The Tusquittee
Painting Queens
laid down
an undercoat of terre verte
to
neutralize the red and pink
and make cheeks and hands
glow
Hands that
cup a butterfly, a hummingbird
Hands that
hold a newborn or follow your
lover around
the dance floor
Chloe made a warm space
for the
Tusquittee Queens to paint and drink tea
To Chloe,
from a distance,
you were
loved by all.
I stroked her cheek
brushed her hair back from her eyes
I held her hand in mine
as in prayer
and promised her
I would love her the rest of my life
To Chloe,
from a distance,
This could
be you here
and me there
spread
across the green earth.