Bubblegum Jewelweeds

This year I had

cotton candy

carnation petal

pale pink - hair.

(my husband wasn’t impressed)

There did seem to be a slew

of us, ‘fifty somethings’

suddenly sporting

rainbow hues.

(screw him.)

I am Pinky Tuscadero,

leather pants and lace bra,

tiny valentine hearts pleading

‘me mine’

I scream -

in my worn,

wrinkled neon pink

Doc Martens, defiantly

crushing fat strawberries

into vanilla ice cream

watching the rosy rivlets

running

My pink is NOT preserved

for prepubescent Lolitas

or peachy prom queens

or blushed brides

My pink is watermelon sunsets

bubblegum jewelweeds that

are not contained

by window boxes

This year I had

cotton candy

carnation petal

pale pink - hair.

And next year

I’ll probably

do it -

again.