a tulip plucked without consent
1.
a red tulip in a vase,
its final petal ready
to drop: a six year old
child falls asleep, dreams
of six petals wrapped
around her: arms
of her mother, of her
father, of her sister.
2.
years later, she awakes,
alone: no petals, only a stamen
& pistil remain, frightening
her. the tulip's wails swirl
into her hair, she can't
get it out of her head, she can't
get out of bed. she lies there,
muffled in the pillow. she is
the tulip plucked
without consent, left
to die, severed
from her family.
3.
years later, she re-opens
her eyes, finding she is
not a corpse on display, she is
not unpetaled & alone. she lives,
she breathes, she fleshes. she is
here.
4.
years later, slowly,
she re-attaches
petals, choosing the colors,
choosing her family,
re-claiming herself one petal
at a time.
Karo Ska (she/they) is a South Asian & Eastern European non-binary femme, migrant poet, living on occupied Tongva Land (aka Los Angeles) with their black cat muse. Anti-capitalist & anti-authoritarian, they find joy where they can. Their first chapbook, "gathering grandmothers' bones" was released on February 29th, 2020. For updates, follow them on instagram @karoo_skaa or check out their website karoska.com.