Pink petals came down all afternoon.
They scattered across the lawn like seashells
On a beach—
I remembered I was responsible for my life,

Or that idea was a feeling, emerging like color
In spring: everywhere
For a time, then fading
Into notice.

This was Thursday.
I did not announce all
That seemed apparent to me, did not stand.
My chair, under the dogwood.

D. Eric Parkison received his MA from the University of Rochester and his MFA from Boston University. His chapbook, No Arcadia, was released in August of 2020. He is the recipient of a 2022 Massachusetts Cultural Council fellowship. He lives in Lynn, MA. Find his work at deparkison.com.