Don't Sorry, Be Sappy

I was caught in the pantry
eating roses straight
out of the can.

I believe in those winged purposes.

He says my lips are like petals,
so now I can show him the
tumble of pink, the fluttering
of things behind teeth

as I open my mouth to say Hello,
how are you? I made your simile true.

Our world feels like pulling suspenders
away from our lungs and breathing
in the orange light of certain subway trains.

Each day is an armchair
and the stuffing tumbles out the back.

kittens crawl inside, fill the space
with purrs and heartbeats.