1

Secret dye from a mollusk
—murex brandaris—
found off an island
off the Moroccan coast

Twelve thousand murex snails
                                                     yielded Tyrian imperial
                                                                    for the trim of one robe
Color only royalty could wear    for anyone else
                                                                                    hubris
Few knew where the dye was found
                                                         It was death
                                                                      or exile to reveal it

2                                                               

Silk robe my father brought me
amethyst background  new leaf green print
It made me feel royal   has
since he showed me with his gift
he knew I loved that color
preferred it to the docile shades
it seemed he liked better
I didn’t know he knew
He said so little with words

3

Wolf’s bane
                        asters
                                      morning glory
                                                                unfurling

4

Concord grapes
I cut into quarters
and tried to feed him after
he began refusing
food or drink

5

Silk robe    The geode’s fractured core

6

Coast side meditation garden   We walked
not talking   A place he’d discovered
wanted me to see

7

A koi splashed
Japanese maples shivered with new green

8

Walked past crocuses
and hyacinth
this silence not exile or banishment
but gift