Diamonds and Rust

by Patricia Carragon

Diamonds and Rust
And if you’re offering me diamonds and
     rust I’ve already paid—Joan Baez

I’m not nostalgic,
but tonight,
too many ghosts walked in.

The moon was full,
dust slept on broken boxes.

Heard whispers in my head,
brought the boxes down.

Teenage expectations
unwrapped—

eyes on peacock feathers
dry as dust.

The Madonna and saints,
never saw the storm coming.

No prayer could have prevented
what I had to face.

Teenage expectations
rewrapped,
returned—

diamond dreams
left to rust.