Unfoldings

Unfoldings
by Michael R. Burch

for Vicki

Time unfolds ...

Your lips were roses.

... petals open, shyly clustering ...

I had dreams

of other seasons.

... ten thousand colors quiver, blossoming.

Night and day ...

Dreams burned within me.

... flowers part themselves, and then they close ...

You were lovely;

I was lonely.

... a virgin yields herself, but no one knows.

Now time goes on ...

I have not seen you.

... within ringed whorls, secrets are exchanged ...

A fire rages;

no one sees it.

... a blossom spreads its flutes to catch the rain.

Seasons flow ...

A dream is dying.

... within parched clusters, life is taking form ...

You were honest;

I was angry.

... petals fling themselves before the storm.

Time is slowing ...

I am older.

... blossoms wither, closing one last time ...

I'd love to see you

and to touch you.

... a flower crumbles, crinkling, worn and dry.

Time contracts ...

I cannot touch you.

... a solitary flower cries for warmth ...

Life goes on as

dreams lose meaning.

... the seeds are scattered, lost within a storm.

Keywords/Tags: love, youth, spring, roses, petals, unfolding, lips, virgin, dreams, time, seasons, storms, summer, drought