what color to brighten
black? what else but green?

it made no cerebral sense,
but as soon as I touched

the sweater, I knew it was right
like jewels in a crown

black represents death, often,
and green means life, everyone knows

the juxtaposition of the two
sums up what’s going on

between my head and my gut;
the emerald necklace glitters

like a cat poised to push the queen
off the edge and I’m next in line