Poems

[Avalanche lily grows on high mountain slopes]

By Bridget O’Bernstein

Avalanche lily grows on high mountain slopes
where they found some of his clothing slashed
             and bloody on the side of the road

He did not understand that he was going to be executed

He was running without his clothes in winter
they would find him very cold
             nearly frozen
stark white on the underside
             and often bright red

or even growing up through the snow