Petals

A rose petal for you, A

o e
R s petal for me,

a life for you,
Only a rose petal for me.

A red fluttery memory lands in my palm,
it stings, like the bittersweet accompaniment of the serenade.
"That's one," it whispers. "Past."

A red fluttery silence in my mind curves to fit my hand,
"Shhh," I try to scream, I try to believe, I try to cry,
"Shhh,
That's two," it breathes. "Present."

I... open my mouth to scream or sing,
or cry or lose the heart of mine
My lips, and straight through;
I gasp for air but the petals drink my crimson
like the depths of a song, a sinful blood, agony.

Warm fingers sink my lips between them,
my screams stay airless and locked, alone
in the silence of messages, vacantly.

A different voice curls against my ears,
softening my fear and steadying my grip.
You will be fine, it tells me.
I shut my eyes hard, "Hello?"
There is no reply behind the petals,
adding scarlet flushes to my skin
like injections of sweet, sweet sorrow.

"That's three," it says, a slitting sharpness in its voice,
like any flesh may crumple before it.
"Future."

A hand searches blindly, seeking the petals,
You will never hurt this way again
Like a petal on a rose, you shall never evoke.