Petal Peril

Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep on a Sonoran Desert summer, or an underdog, or dark horses, or mama bears.  Such pretty things—have teeth.  They can bite; they can burn.  They last while the world tumbles and turns.  Grow fierce in threat of storm.  Stand tall when assumed to fall.  Underestimate them at your peril.  Pretty petals may be fragile—roots are not.

 

desert willow petals

blowing sideways

straight against the fall

 

 

© 2025 Jennifer Wagner

 

dVerse Poetics: “Whatever you do, don’t fall asleep…”

 

Loon Lake

 

The three of us,

with the late afternoon sun

in our hair,

semi-stuck in the reeds,

using paddles to try to turn

that little pedal boat around,

our laughter

catching the ears of teen boys

who came to give us a push—

 

where did we each end up—

different places,

but still,

the three of us,

nudged by

wind, water, sun,

 

have memory

of the last golden glint

of rowing together

in a coming-of-age summer,

and the haunting song

of loons on the lake

here and gone.

 

 

© 2025 Jennifer Wagner

 

dVerse Poetics

 

Complementary

 

This poem is about purple,

and teal,

and lemon meringue pie—

 

about sage green

and chicken, spatchcocked,

and grilled.

 

This poem is about wrapping myself

in a silk-slick black robe, disappearing into midnight,

being seen.

 

It’s about color—

and taste,

and smell,

and feel,

 

and things that just make sense

when they don’t.

 

Like when

and how quickly

we made ourselves one.

 

How it all could have been undone.

How we could have been

undone.

 

But contrast,

and tang,

and memory touch,

 

and savory savoring—

holding on

when it hurt so much—

 

saved us

from us.

 

 

© 2025 Jennifer Wagner

dVerse oln

 

For Whom the Horn Honks

 

Photo © 2025 Jennifer Wagner

 

Even if the hearse is of a different color,

when the bumper sticker displays

a grim price,

 

no one wants to pay,

but get out of the reaper’s way

and live to fiesta another day.

 

 

© 2025 Jennifer Wagner

 

Capturing an Image

Note: not sure if it's very readable, but the orange sticker lists the price on this is as $235!!