With painted eyes and salty lips, I felt
a flower blooming. Roots grew deep beneath
the fertile soil and caused the snow to melt.
My leaves were sun-bound, soaking in each breath.
Warm water, with silk flower petals that
were floating with their languid ease, would all
but drown my smile. Instead, I breathed and sat
in liquid life. A rock that could not fall.
A boom, a quake, a tumble off the edge—
the gard’ner killed the flower. Wilted leaves
and bleeding petals are strewn ‘round the ledge
and weathered headstone of the missing eves.
I still look for the stars, reach for the heart
that set my soul to bloom. We are apart.