“Ruined Pears”
Hayley Stoddard
“and then be reckless, be reckless, and resolved in returning gratitude.” -Gertrude Stein
There is a cool cup in my hand held out to you
a patent of pears and of ripe, green forgiveness
which I must only hope you will drink down,
a down comforter for all the sleep that I have cost you
the hours unkept, the bowl of fruit smashed
by the door, spattering it with juice like blood
a pomegranate murder of the anxious mind
an offense to the goodness of your knowing me.
I took your hand, brought you up the tree
it bruised, scraped but I was still thankful you came
I didn’t mean to cause the blood. I just wanted
you to see the view that only I had ever seen.
Hayley Stoddard lives in Colorado, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree. She began writing at a young age, and has been inspired by such writers as Billy Collins, John Keats, Emily Dickinson, William Wordsworth, Anne Lamott, Mary Oliver, and Leonard Cohen. Her work has been seen in or is upcoming in several publications, including Parley Publishing, Oberon, After the Pause, Eris+Eros, Sad Girls Club Lit, Beyond Words Magazine, Drunk Monkeys, and Eunoia Review.