Hearts Left Behind

Hearts Left Behind (watercolor/charcoal) M. Lee

We traveled a purple road

just to behold
 blooming exotics

on crooked trees,

  lying in wait where

juicy red hearts

shouted pick me pronto.

La Magica took
one  look,
eyeing fat blossoms 

nestled in thorns.
"Get out of there right now,"
she screeched
"they're on to you!"

Scrambling then, and I mean quick,
no time to gawk or fret
gotta go, gotta get.
I'd learned to trust her
she-who-must-be-obeyed
"Listen up old sweetie,
surrender now or don't get paid."

Didn't know, didn't care,
what it all meant still up in the air
running fast now on my toes.
Look out! hearts shrieking in glee
 so close I could see
they ran redder than blood,
 flinging poo at me.

I turned then, faced them down
"Let me take your photo?"
 Startled they agreed, ogling, smirking
at the sight. Then
shocked at their thorns, they offered
apologies...so sorry, didn't know,
we'll leave you alone, we'll let you go.



Turning their backs they slithered away
   I cut up their pictures,
gave as good as I got.
"Be still," Magica spoke wise,
"forgive and forget
for they know now what they ought."
Pacem in Terris.