Upon Return
Hannah Gerber

Upon return

the plants were dying.

As if

they simply could not bear

our absence and to

prove their point

began to shed leaves

and weep

within those

brief days.

 Who needs, I said

dramatic flair

within houseplants?

Jesus.

Maternal

I had begun watering

before even putting down

my purse.

Red luggage

angry at their new stripes

of dirt and rough handling

from strange men

glowers at me

and throws themselves

to the tile

in rebuke

of my sudden neglect.