8/17/2019 Peony Poem

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“ Peony ”

Marilyn Chin

Why must I tell you this story, O little one

You’re just a bud-of-a-girl, who knows nothing

 Now you are full-faced, bright as sun

 Now you open your skirts pink, layered, braen

!uffering is alchemy, change is "od

 Now you droop your head, hea#y with rust

!it, contemplate, what did $uddha say%

Old age, sickness, death, no one owns eternity

&etach, detach, look away from the sun

'et your petals fall aimlessly

&on’t despair, little one, we are done

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