HE ASKED ME
WHAT I WANTED
TO SEE
GROWING IN
THE SPRING,
I TOLD HIM
I WANTED A
PEONY,
A MOST
IMPORTANT
THING,
THIS BRILLIANT
FLOWER
ENCHANTING
BOWER
OF BEAUTY
AND LIFE
REMINDS
ME OF THE
IMPOSSIBLE DREAM
THAT STAYS
WITH ME
FOREVER FREE
FROM OTHER THINGS,
THE QUEEN OF
BLOSSOMS
SURELY MADE
FROM PETALS
TUCKED IN
CLOSE PARADE,
CHUBBY
LUSCIOUS
HOT PINK
FLOWERS
BLOOMING
IN THE SHADE,
I MENTION
THIS BECAUSE
A TIME OF
DIRE STRAITS
HAS CAUSED
THE CRIME
OF SICKNES
IN THE BODY
AND MIND,
SEPARATELY
ENTERING
FROM BEHIND,
WE’VE BEEN
INVADED BY
FEAR AND
DEATH,
AT TIMES WHEN
YOU CAN’T
TAKE A BREATH
WITHOUT
ANOTHER STORY,
PEOPLE
DYING
FAMILIES
CRYING
NEWS CASTS
FORECASTS
FEAR AND DOUBT,
IT PLAGUES THE
BEST OF US,

WITH ONLY
ONE WAY
OUT OF TOWN,
MENTAL VISIONS
MUST SURROUND
AND GENTLY
COVER THE
AWESOME ENTRY
SLIT IN THE BRAIN,
A HOLE AS BIG
AS THE
ROARING
FREIGHT TRAIN:
THE PEONY IS
MY NEW KOOLAID,
THE FANCY
FLOWER
IN AWESOME
GRADE,
I HEARD A
WOMAN THAT
I ADMIRE
SUGGESTING
JUST THIS
WAY:
CLOSE YOUR
MIND TO
ALL THE GRIEF
SUBMIT THE
SOUL TO
GREAT RELIEF,
YOU CANNOT
CHANGE
EXCEPT YOURSELF
INCLUDING
ALL THE MENTAL
HEALTH,
FIND A SPOT
WHERE YOU CAN
SIT
BENEATH THE
WISHING TREE,
CONCENTRATE ON
HAPPINESS
AS CLOSE
AS IT MAY BE,
SEE THE LIGHT
COME SOARING IN
EMBRACE IT
NOW
WITHOUT THE SIN
OF FEAR AND
DARKNESS
ONCE AGAIN,
AND WATCH
MY PEONY
GROW AND SPIN
INTO NEW LIFE
AND COLORS
BREAKING
INTO YOUR
FERTILE MIND,
THEN CLOSE
THE EYES
AND YOU
WILL RISE
ABOVE
FRAY
WHERE YOU
WILL STAY,
BLESSED BY
LOVE AND
DIGNITY,
TAKE MY
HAND
SWEET MYSTERY!

©JW WINSLOW 5/1/2020