roses & other things that 
are/were/could be red 

roses are/were/could
be red--

red like
my nose outside
in november 
like
red velvet cupcakes
we ate on the curb
outside the eighth grade 
dance 
like
thinking that i might
love you like buttercream
frosting
like
knowing that i love
you like blaring EXIT signs
& sometimes like scabs

red like
holding your breath underwater
& sinking to the bottom of the
pool 
like
watching everyone
through a film of chlorine--
like
smeared pastel bodies
fallen into some 
impressionist painting
where everyone just looks like
clouds 
like 
falling back into you 
& kissing underwater
like 
how clumsy 
it is to kiss someone--
like 
not wanting to need air

red like
peppers
like
FOR SALE signs
smacked on front-lawn 
boats 
like
ring-pop engagements
underneath the green slide
at the playground 
like
apples & eating the
seeds until trees 
sprout from our mouths 

red like 
running away with you
& sleeping the back of your
parent's car
like 
midnight on the roof
like
a soup ladle full
of chess pieces & ice cream
like 
you watching me getting
sicker & being able to
do nothing about it
like 
measuring cups & 
lip stick on your cheek

red like
homecoming roses 
we dried out in your
garage 

red like 
i promise 
like
cherry slushie
like 
sun 

red like
fish hooks & bitten
tongues
like 
love songs i no longer
listen to
because they remind me
too much of a 
high school dance
like 
turning into the bodies
floating in impressionist
paintings
like 
becoming a blur of a human 
like

red like
wondering if i'm the
same person who 
fell in love 
in so many different ways
like 
jumping into a pool
like
dipping my
toes
in the creek 

red like
best friends & 
tree trunks
like
loving you forever &
ever
like 
burying necklaces 
in black trash bags 
like forgetting
to call you again 
for the third time 
this year
like
all you have become 
without me 
like
all you are because
we knew each other 

it was all red--
all of us--
like
the sunset melted
on the back porch-- 
like
throat lozenges when
we both shared colds
like
roses roses roses