Forget-Sorrow Flower

Forget-Sorrow Flower
© Surazeus
2024 11 02

The letter of love on delicate paper 
you wrote to me, that I received last night, 
I fold into the Forget-Sorrow Flower, 
shaped like the elegant moon-glowing swan, 
and glide it on the Lake of Memory 
to carry my longing for you away. 

Soft shimmer of moonlight on apple blossoms 
suffuses my heart with passionate hope 
I fold into the Forget-Sorrow Flower, 
but she sadly spreads wings of innocence 
and flies into the cold shadow of death, 
so I light fire to warm my lonely heart. 

Sweet chirp of the goldfinch who knows my name 
leads me through shady grove of apple trees 
to sky-silver pool of indifferent love 
where you kneel in mud to carefully lift 
free the old turtle stuck in tangled roots, 
then we smile as it eats herbs from your hand. 

When you offer me platter of fruit cakes, 
spiced with ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon, 
that flash my eyes with visions of green leaves 
flickering sunlight and shadow of desire, 
I float in pleasure of your firm embrace 
as soft kiss of our souls connect our hearts. 

Strange portrait you painted, under oak bower 
of grape vines interlaced with eglantine, 
that depicts me in flowing feathered gown 
blown by the lake breeze in bright summer sun, 
flaps in gloom of numbing loneliness 
when I ask the goldfinch where you are now. 

When you ride away on stallion of war, 
sword you forged from meteor stone of the sky 
gleaming silver in your patriotic hand, 
I turn away and pretend not to care 
that arrows or sharp swords of bitter hate 
may strike your heart so you never come home. 

The portrait you painted of me alone 
on florid hill of our togetherness 
I fold into the Forget-Sorrow Flower 
wet with tears of my heartless thunderstorm 
that blots out the moon where I see your face 
watching over me with love-glowing eyes. 

While I wander lost in dreams of cracked skulls 
that call my name, you retrieve your love letter 
I fold into the Forget-Sorrow Flower, 
then kiss me so I wake in your warm arms, 
so I cry with joy you are still alive, 
afraid I am lost in dream I invent.