Friday, March 21, 2025

What Grows Now At The Tower Of London by Rhonda Melanson

 

Image | Anne Boleyn 



What Grows Now At The Tower Of London

 

Tour guide points to field where the beheadings took place,

even the doomed spot where the inimitable Anne stood, 

squinting at cerulean sky. Placid.

 

Did she consider how many pints of spilled blood it might take 

to start a revolution? Fertilizer for something better? Wheat 

for a loaf of bread? 

 

Could you grow a person who lifts their face to a jaundiced

sun, who sees need to till those fields, drain moat, scatter 

the sweetest seeds,

 

who builds cenotaphs of lamb's ears and lavender, wildflowers

to declare war on death for power's sake? 

 

The fragility needed for ferocious times.


© Rhonda Melanson


Rhonda Melanson

A graduate of Queen’s University Artist In The Community Education Program, Rhonda Melanson has been published in several print and online magazines and is a recent recipient of the Ted Plantos Memorial Award in Ontario, Canada. She is the author of two chapbooks: Gracenotes (Beret Days Press) and My Name is Mary (Alien Buddha Press). She also co-edits a literary blog, Uproar.



 



 

 

 

 

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