Tony Hoagland, What Narcissism Means to Me

"Outside the youth center, between the liquor storeand the police station,a little dogwood tree is losing its mind;overflowing with blossomfoam,like a sudsy mug of beer;like a bride ripping off her clothes,dropping snow white petals to the ground in clouds,so Nature’s wastefulness seems quietly obscene. It’s been doing that all week:making beauty,and throwing it away,and making more."