The Necklace

THE NECKLACE (FORM INSPIRED BY “THE BLUE DRESS” BY SAEED JONES)

Aspen Hansen

This necklace of mine that holds the ash of you inside it is a fossil Is a gem is a song I remember but not well enough to sing is a broken bridge, Is oil in the water is light in the water is a rippled reflection Is a cocoon is a secret is a perfect sand dollar in my hands, Is a treasure is rainbows through eyelashes is all I have left of your hands, Is a pillowcase covered in clouds is the water that swallowed you Is a grasshopper is my brightest longing is a locked door, Is my T-shirt full of blueberries is where I want to be sometimes Is a nightmare is part of me dead is a belly laugh is a scar, Is shame is a flower before it flowers is pride is a baby blanket Is root-bound is river-bound is home-bound is grief-bound, Is the red swing-set you built for me is a whirlpool is a scrap of sun, Is not really you is all of you is forever Is an unfinished poem