Stacy Rollins
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Frozen Magnolias
The spring I planned to leave New York, an arctic
blast cryogenically stunted the Magnolias
just as their buds popped pink, nipples
on a dog’s belly, a pinched pubescence.
I ambled though April’s slate gray brambles
that knotted and poked holes in my vision.
The doldrums didn’t miss a beat. I wore snazzy
new sneakers with cloud foam and neon accents
against brightest white, and glided
through Prospect Park’s mournful landscape,
fondling these hot pink frozen nubs hardened
dry in physical fear: a carnage of self-protection.
A single bird presided, raised one wing, and chirped
a personal story of how he leapt from a nest
in similar weather and lived to impart
the tale of his descent to the senescent,
shrunken city, fertility’s flowerless funeral,
and my suitcase.
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Stacy Rollins is a writer, artist, and singer who has authored two books: Truer Faults and Learning to Read. Her work has appeared in Atticus Review, Everyday Genius, Diversion Press, Black Heart Magazine, Crack the Spine, Poetry Quarterly, New York Dreaming, Garbanzo, Nailed Magazine, Shantih, The Oleander Review, Rat's Ass Review, Helen Literary Magazine, and Armorolla.