Jacaranda Gentleman

You collect long words

Like pressed leaves in a cracked notebook

Say “anencephaly” then laugh

Ask

“Does it scare you or just sound blue?”

You stir your coffee

With a jacaranda bloom you stole

Purple stains your fingers

You call it your polite little bruise

Jacaranda gentleman

Bowtie made of broken syllables

Holding doors for every ghost

That ever walked across your skull

Jacaranda gentleman

You tip your hat to every doubt

Say “I’m missing half my mind

But watch the flowers thinking out loud”

You walk the quiet streets

Naming clouds like they’re your cousins

Offer strangers paper hearts

Folded from prescription instructions

You quote philosophers

Then trip over a curb and grin

Say

“Grace is just gravity

With a suit and a safety pin”

Jacaranda gentleman

Bowtie made of broken syllables

Holding doors for every ghost

That ever walked across your skull

Jacaranda gentleman

You tip your hat to every doubt

Say “I’m missing half my mind

But watch the flowers thinking out loud”