Notice

Notice my mother

look at her fly coat—look at her

maple leaves turn magenta when she walks by

there’s envy in the stars tonight

my mother passed and they fought about who was prettier

she or the moon

who deserved to polish Orion’s Belt

who should swim the black river of  her hair

then the shy paper of  her hands

traced a path for hummingbirds to saunter

her painted lips held swollen questions

more rageful than returning refugees

more righteous than stars

more beautiful than the revolution we have been preparing