Just Now

My brother opens his eyes when he hears the door click
Open downstairs and Joe's steps walking up past the meowing cat

And the second click of the upstairs door, and then he lifts
His head so that Joe can kiss him. Joe has brought armfuls

Of broken magnolia branches in full blossom, and he putters
In the kitchen looking for a big jar to put them in and finds it

And now they tower in the living room, white and sweet, where
John can see them if he leans out from his bed which

He can’t do just now, and now Joe is cleaning. What a mess
You've left me, he says, and John is smiling, almost asleep again