a tulip
in red sunlight
I take it apart
in my room,
bored this day
the petals are
as oily
as fries
and I let each
fall like
jumpers to
the floor
I look up at my
computer screen
to a changing image
capturing me
with time of the
nearby clock
and I run my
hand across the
lined face
and smile
at no one,
because
the secret is
beyond me