My Petals of Words

Unfinished words I now retrace Are drifting now like petals in the wind Blown long ago, from some old hidden place This is the night that calls me to that place From deep within my vase of memory I fell in love with words, but knew that love was fleet My words recall, and help to write a poem As if it were a thing to touch and feel That time and years would take to make complete I write again on petals now retrieved! And still, somehow, sweet fragrance lingers near When thoughts were flowers falling at my feet I’ll pick them up, and dust them fresh and clear Tonight I bare my folly to the moon O’ moon, you saw the ways the devil woos How roses swoon to songs so out of tune But hearts refuse to see the naked truth A bloom that sought the sun to feel the glow For gentle touch and whispers from the breeze Instead of sonnets sung with warming breath Each petal has had his chance, and left with ease I trace the choices made…each withered shard Words strove to use me up, and follow scorn I stand alone, stripped bare of self regard As petals fell away, stripped down to thorns My words now steal my breath, against my will Made captive by a heart who seeks it still ______________________________________________ 1/24/13