名人诗歌|Epitaph X

My birthright I have traded for a petal^{1 dress}

and a summer eulogy^{2. I have pawned3 my soul}

for this opal ring， the color of a pale， taxidermied eye.

If I could carry calla lilies on my shoulder once more

like an umbrella in daylight， I would lean them

on the cemetery^{4 gate and sleep until the groundskeeper found me.}

For some of us， beauty is carcinoma.

The saints stigmata is gods rose， bestowed⁵

for forgoing^{6 a human lover， who will， of course， die.}

I died last year. My mother made her tears into crystal

earrings^{7 and clipped them to my ears. Son， you will}

pay for your sin， my father spoke^{8 from his throne of glass.}

Stars burn a sharp， white nacre until they evaporate.

The moons flamingo^{9 unfolds her iodine10 wings over the broken city.}

My necropolis. My teeth are the fruit of your olive tree.