A Poem by Ben Nardolilli

Bloom a Song

Whether a cluster of faces or a shadow,
There is always an audience bringing
Open eyes, empty ears, and naked hands,
Someone can always come into the orchard
And demand you shake the tree.

Make sure the fruit is ripe for touch,
With no waiting or walking away needed,
Keep the rigid baskets away, but hands
Should be used to hold out eager aprons,
Soft targets that still have bounds.

It is good to capture the collective breath
But if seeds fall out of juice stained hands
That is good enough, but if the audience
Rises, applauses, and dances, keeping
The serpent away, that is the best solution of all.

Ben Nardolilli currently lives in Arlington, Virginia. His work has
appeared in Perigee Magazine, Red Fez, One Ghana One Voice, Caper
Literary Journal, Quail Bell Magazine, Elimae, fwriction, THEMA, Pear
Noir, The Minetta Review, and Yes Poetry. His chapbook Common Symptoms
of an Enduring Chill Explained, has been published by Folded Word
Press. He maintains a blog at mirrorsponge.blogspot.com and is looking
to publish his first novel.