The Virgin Queen of Celery

The lascivious insinuating
Empress of the Summer
will supplant plants on a whim,
and with celerity (she’s fresh

from being strawberries –
with memorable temerity):
she’s now decided to portray
the Virgin Queen of Celery –

whose trim, cool crispnesses
permit her to imagine cold.
She blooms all brave
and saintly – bold: as if

the winter were a destiny –
or even possibility –
which clearly it is not. Odd
to be what only knows the hot.

.