Daisies

 

I’ve always hated

the idea of waiting

An autistic child

dreaming of someone

Wearing the illusion

of a voice on the phone

Or a text message

buzzing in the late night

The music of a wish I know

Can never be real

Isolated from reality,

Day after day

Taunting

Distracted my mind

Like a melody

From the radio

Stuck inside of me

Waiting,

The daisies of love

Dangling over me

Like a guillotine

Pedals falling

One by one

Like other lovers’ heads

With “loves me”

“Loves me nots”

Counting down

A rain of soft uncertainty

Drenching me

And draining me,

Me knowing to what end

The pedals will fall

Waiting for an answer

I already know

And never wish to hear

 

(1983 revised 2012)