Sunflower in the Dark

By

Jennifer Angelina Petro

At night sunflower

bow your head,

so your seeds look

longingly at the ground.

Open

your palms so the moon can fill them

with silver light—its drapery liminal

and gauzy, persuading

water to rise to your roots.  It is important.

The night says so.  You are

a flower.  You are

radiant.  You are

still growing.

you still carry the future. Remember

the sky.

Allow me

to hold you,

in the soft shawl of my arms, allow me

to touch your face

with starlight.  You are

still capable of leaning

into the wind and staying

strong.  You are

holy, so sway,

and sway—

feel that—feel the cool night wind.

And know this: you will

turn your face to the sun again, you will

be drenched in light.  You will.

You will.