Renewal

There within the shadows, 
A flower drawn upon the wall, 
Painted in a corner, 
Designed and labelled by a fool 
Captured at the cusp of its bloom; 
Sheltered beneath a tinted glass, 
Every new petal reaching for the sun 
Put back in its place

Every new bud smothered 
By a new layer of gloss, 
Dreams of gardens and orchards 
Pressed between the pages 
Of the book of inadequacy 
Until the ink of the words 
Bled into the soft velvet; 
As believed as truth 

Long cast at apathy's door, 
Indifference woven into every thread, 
Reaching without searching, 
Blinded as the wall began to crumble, 
Warmth slowly seeping 
Through the freeze, 
Until the flower blossomed 
Beyond its own recognition,

Basking in the touch 
Of soft words and blue dreams 
Tied together for all of time, 
Five-hundred Sundays and more, 
Counted as mere whispers 
In the pool of eternity, 
And there before you lies 
A changed woman



decembeer 2008
Janet Reid





Awarded by Poetic Constellations ~ May 31, 2009




Shortened version published in Verse Afire 2010 Vol. 6 #3


Renewal

A flower drawn upon the wall, 
Painted in a corner, 
Captured at the cusp of its bloom; 
Sheltered beneath a tinted glass, 
Every new petal reaching for the sun 
Put back in its place
Every new bud smothered 
By a new layer of gloss,
Pressed between the pages of a book

Reaching without searching, 
Blinded as the wall began to crumble, 
Warmth slowly seeping through the freeze, 
Until the flower blossomed 
Beyond its own recognition,

Basking in the touch 
Of soft words and blue dreams 
Tied together for all of time, 
Five-hundred Sundays and more, 
Counted as mere whispers 
In the pool of eternity, 
And there before you lies 
A changed woman