Ravished

missing heads and shrivelled petals orotund with seed

corn-fed on extra syllables trapped between the teeth

nearly reptilian our rictus of gratitude for another sun

let us trust the rust within us to paint our noble ruins red

as knotweed blossoms into lace and devil’s-tail brandishes blue fruit

immune to anything that ravishes without or within

they spread like miracules their missionary impositions

as we lower our last dreams into the earth

we who were never beautiful but were sensitive to beauty

our lanterns in the dark so sleek and next-generation

are monitoring our every flicker for signs of life