some thoughts on lemons

Lemons
Why are they clean

That she washed
And laid them in
The bloody creek

Before we went
To sleep for the
Rest of the decade

Before the cranks
Came out of the
Dead house and
Cut water all over

That tumbled out
The cedar chest with
Lockets bound with
Human sadness

Lemons
Cleansed thoroughly
Why, now

Why are they clean