Annatto Seeds

Stained hand of annatto paste after

cooking tamales. Tears of a kid’s

bleeding knee.

Sometimes the flashing lights in the ambulance.

A building block in the corner,

waiting to be picked.

A spiderman shirt with markers stained,

biohazard bag in the hospital.

The closing sign of a business.

Strained ink on a wrong answer.

Dying roses on the tomb,

blooming poppies on a spring day.