On the Last Day, Maho Island

heavy red fruit
hangs from the
palm leaves.
Hibiscus. An
Asian woman
with a sarong of
green elephants.
Black and white
petals. Bird floats.
A ghost from
other islands.
The woman will
suspend disbelief
when the astrologer
talks with her hands,
floating fish. Bush
cats, tamarind.
Mahogany, bay
rum. The woman
wrapped in birds
and petals floats
past against
the dying light

— Lyn Lifshin