Milkweed

We are honored to publish this poem by Dorian Brooks. It has just been awarded first prize in the 2016 Arlington (Massachusetts) Poetry Contest by well-known poet Susan Donnelly. Dorian has published the poetry volumes A Pause in the Light and The Wren's Cry.

Milkweed

“Do you love your life?”

my friend asked. And if

we hadn’t been walking

through September fields

with cobalt skies

sifting gold around us,

and if I hadn’t just

pulled a milkweed pod

from its stalk,

split the ripe pouch

and run my finger over

the little silken fish-scales –

each brown seed

ready to fly –

I might not have known

how to answer. As it was

I plucked a few tufts

and turned toward her,

then opened my palm

near my lips and blew

lightly. She nodded

and we walked on

as I kept repeating

my reply.