moody and flush with the glow of midnight kisses
and sharp lavender curling to bless the back of my throat
I was ill equipped to sweep into your room
my majesty garish in the face of
bleached roses on your cheeks
ivy winding up and choking out your voice
parched earth mapping your lips
fissures cracked and weeping
your husband was in the corner
still and steady
a dandelion chain stretched between you
wrist to wrist, petals bright and gleaming
long devotion in the tilt of a head
and bowed shoulders in a shabby coat
last night I fell into a garden of marigolds and sunflowers
ate milk and honey
twined in warm arms; kissed a wicked mouth
and gloried in the sharp scent of lavender
last night you began your slow slide to the earth
and your husband slept beside you
eyes open wide, watching thorny vines
creep up, over, in, and around
pierce the soles of your feet
the curve of your hip
the mole on your shoulder
the one he loves so much
I am undone
you are unraveling
and the bright blooms in your eyes
new shoots peeking through
are crushed by a booted foot
when I tell you
you are dying
I cannot fix it
the vines will steal your breath
stop your heart
smother every seed
decay will spread
a plague of locusts
I gave my heart, freely with no reserve
a shower of fragrant petals
I broke your heart and watched his crumple too
a push into a bed of thorns
is this a balance broken or restored?