Time Allows

By: Amelia Díaz Ettinger

the marcescens of leaves

in an early afternoon

makes for a cup of tea 

to seep bitter on dry lips

they part in acceptance

nature roams her steady flow

but where is the resistance

from leaves, from lips?

why must winter rob green-lush?

does it steal the pigments for lack

of warmth or covetousness? Crushes

the mirth of flowers softly balancing the edge?

why does it render the tenderness of petals

to be burdened by the coming snow

already withered, wrinkled

softly forgotten fearing under edge

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Amelia Díaz Ettinger is a Latinx BIPOC poet and writer. Amelia’s poetry and short stories have been published inanthologies, literary magazines, and periodicals. She has two poetry collections and a chapbook published. She 

has an MS in Biolo-gy and MFA in creative writing. Her literary work is a marriage of science and her experience as an immigrant. Presently, she resides in Eastern Oregon.