If
the doorbell rings or
you hear someone knock
and
a long white box lies
next to the paper
if
you slip off the ribbon and
take off the top
if the roses inside tick
like a watch
if the blast pulls your hair like
a boy in school
if your hands become claws
your skin becomes soup
if
the doctor’s eyes are
nothing but white
if the numbers fall from the face of the clock
if there is no sound when the nurse moves her lips
if you watch from above as she turns down the bed
if there are bells and a long black box
it
will not matter then if
the roses were red.