ohio’s flags

Grigory Starikovsky
translated by the author, edited by Marisa Alvarez

stared down by the red pupil
inside the white rim
pockmarks of stars
pulling and
wringing
rippling and rippling
a tree breathes behind them
throws and catches
spring’s dandruff
its dried-out mouth
bitter leaves
hurled into life
the tattered chill of blooming.