Orchard

Speak, don’t speak, or keep
your counsel to yourself—
see how to dress

for a few more years
your cache of aches
in neutral wrappers.

But take care
not to leach out all
the feeling— The child

must find a way
to herself among
the fruit that’s fallen

from the tree: say this
or green or gold while
cradling the bruised.

In response to an entry from the Morning Porch.