Written by Sophia Magliocca

for Prof. Andrea Strudensky

 

“Does she love me,

does she love me not

please let me know” he said

this game of chance most lovers play

it was much pressure

to sublime a single petal

and much persistence

to uphold such a pitied wish

and yet he didn’t ponder, not a single second

for what passionate soul

had enough love left in their pocket

to pretend to even care

 

“Does she love me,

does she love me not

please let me know” he said

I remained passenger on this doomed ship

mother made us pretty

and brought us profound gifts

of pitiful rays

and peaking bright light

but “people” she said,

“know nothing more than to persist”

she was a powerful woman,

a plum in a field of apple trees

 

“Does she love me,

does she love me not

please let me know” he said

there is no poverty quite like ignorance

don’t forget that we were pretty

but being so lovely sure came with a price

to keep us all perfect each day and every night

we are penetrated with impurities

and pierced by this stinging mist

even the bumbles and the butterflies pushed themselves away

we reeked and smelled of poison gas

in this pot we can’t be free

 

“Does she love me,

does she love me not

please let me know” he said

plastic caps trap our feet

as we remain choking on polluted air

pretty we can be, but not as slaves to human beings

pull us out and you will see

pretentious you may be

prove you love me

and please leave me be

we wither in your flower pots

we’re much more pleasant by this tree

 

“Does she love me,

does she love me not

please let me know” he said

what other purpose can I be

than this painful game you have for me

these people go about

destroying the soul plot

our polished youth provides

and had they known the poison

that thickened with each pulse

they’d pour petals in their veins

but polluted as we are, our gift was not enough

 

“Does she love me,

does she love me not

please let me know” he said

if we switched in dominance, no pity you would see

we’d pull each strand of hair you had

until we finished our petty game

place your head out for display

in purple pots ’til you wither away

then at night we’d creep at your pride

and pour acidic pesticides all over your eyes

perhaps revenge will strike one day

where nature prevails over the human race

 

“Does she love me,

does she love me not

please let me know” he said

stop your whining and your plead

you won’t protect so I won’t perform

I’ll strike you with a pointy thorn

to prove my passion to survive

but the walls I built are no protection

they pierce and tear

but you prove your strength

when you pull at our roots

and steal us from our peaceful home

 

“Does she love me,

does she love me not

please let me know” he said

plucked and worn is a fate for me

was this the price to pay

for being pretty in some way

if you pinch and pull at me

a phoenix could come out of me,

projected right in front of thee,

do you need powers to see me bleed?

pasted on my forehead reads

please will you protect me, but blind you cannot see

 

“Does she love me,

does she love me not

please let me know” he said

there they pranced

breathing in but their pride

hard work from my brothers long presumed

rested sure overlooked, no longer pure

next came the trees, printed bright on that paper

I beg to differ how I prefer the latter

all a bunch of psychics

not a clue for today, or preview for tomorrow

with a profound desire to watch me suffer

 

“Does she love me,

does she love me not

please let me know” he said

pretentious people your head always perched

and you pretend I’m not here

pacing over my shoulders

a pair of burning eyes

pushing hard on my spine

and pulling from my sister

every little petal she had

in your peak of angered rage

 

“Does she love me,

does she love me not

please let me know” he said

with him sat a lovely puppet

pure beauty and singled grace

poor thing was in deep

and light crystals poured

from her purple-black eyes

along came a palm

who pulled at my spine

and brushed my white petals

over her piano key eyes

 

“Do you love me,

do you love me not

please let me know” he said

Pitted and profound the creatures went about

popping like peppercorns and

as poised as royalty overcome with diversion

for I was now a petal-less peasant

losing my privileges to grow big and high

to propose a single change

to prompt back to life

our planet watched and died

and your relationship sprung to life

I, a loyal present in her eyes

my beauty was her prize

 

“I love you” she said

from her perfect porcelain skin

I plummeted down,

to the beaten pavement poured over the ground

with passion she reached for sweet embrace

playing and dancing they wondered about

my perfume forever lost

in this pond of ruthless mercy, and by my side

a puff of sweet distaste

the profound bud of a cigarette

burnt a hole in my pith

with my ended prime, I lay and die

 

You love me not.

 

About the Author:

My name is Sophia Magliocca and I am a first year Literature student. My favourite things in life are writing, coffee and travelling – in that order. Born and raised in a humble home, I have big dreams of earning a PhD in literature to further pursue my passion for literature on a professional level. I hope that one day my dedication for written work will be the key I need to unlock the doors to an entire world of opportunity.