The Curse of the Dog, the Sunflower and the Young Mother

by Jill Michelle

after Alicia Ostriker

To be cursed
complained the dog
is to have your mom
home
all day
but not allowed
to move or play

To be cursed
complained the sunflower
is to sit on the sill
brightness
ignored, except when
your petals fell

To be cursed
complained the young mother
is to love un-sprung seeds
so hard
while you watch them
wash right through you
like broken water

Jill Michelle’s latest works appear/are forthcoming in Brink, LEON Literary Review, New Ohio Review, The Orchards Poetry Journal, and Valley Voices. Her poem, “On Our Way Home,” won the 2023 NORward Prize for Poetry. She teaches at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida. Find more of her work at byjillmichelle.com.