EXCERPT FROM SOMETHING MUCH LONGER

Here is what I take from flowers:

the brain of a monkey is the perfect marriage of sunflower and rose;

no man who is righteous rings the bell of a misspent daisy;

the pom pom is a cabbage ravaged by time and frisky with desire;

people are fire torn to ribbons;

the skull is a ball not intended for child’s play;

and finally,

pumpkin.