Daniel Moore

Instructions for the Lonely

Watching your seasonal morals wilt
                                          as the flowers were centered,

someone’s been flirting with the god
                                                    of arrangement.

Someone’s open relationship is coming
                                                             to a violent close.

Zippers are up. Locks changed.
                               Now, there are more of you to grieve

the gift of lukewarm hands,
                                         more of them to act as if

your name is Miracle. Let their weakness
                                  be your strength like Samson’s

uncut hair. Tell them sorrow has a fuse,
                                    Mr. Matchstick made in heaven.

Daniel Edward Moore lives in Washington on Whidbey Island. His poems are forthcoming in Lullwater Review, The Meadow, Muddy River Poetry Review, The Lindenwood Review, The Chaffin Journal, The Chiron Review, Adelaide Magazine, The American Journal of Poetry, Gyroscope Review and The Bitter Oleander. He is the author of 'Boys' (Duck Lake Books) and “Waxing the Dents” (Brick Road Poetry Press)