So Open

(after paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe)

by Ce Rosenow and Harriot West

sunlight

shining back from them

blue morning glories Ce

petals of a red canna

pulsing in the heat Harriot

so open

they crowd each other

copper roses Ce

deeper

and deeper

the pull of a black iris Harriot

out from its core

pink tulip’s colored swirls Ce

cradled

by rippling leaves

ivory moonflower Harriot

From Tandem 2:2, October 2022, page 56.