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Wrapping a Gift for Someone Who Dislikes Me

Unexpected synchronicities never fail to teach us

Photo by poet

I have refilled an empty spice jar
with lavender roses, euphorbia, mint,
and one white blossom — a plant whose name
I cannot, for the life of me, recall

It’s an offering
An offertory to feed the soul
of a dear, very devout friend thirsting
to keep the faith
Sweating blood to believe
she’ll resurrect
from multiple strokes

Her favorite flowers are white tulips, though,
and I’m not at all sure
she’ll appreciate
the symbolism of my makeshift vase

I’m not sure I do

But I do know
grace and my better angel
nudged me to choose it

Like, just now, each kicked my reluctant ass
to wrap two books
at the behest of my ex-husband,
whose own dear pal is throwing himself
a 70th birthday extravaganza