Wilt

Wilt

I can still vividly recall

that smell that smiled

at me in the hall,

as I wandered past

your door.

Maybe it was the shelves full

of overpriced perfume,

but I’d bet it was just you,

in full bloom,

the long spiral petals

of your hair—

gold leafed brown to match

your stare;

I didn’t dare

linger,

long.

Instead I climbed

the stairs,

to the balcony,

from where

I could watch you

from above

& pretend we were

in love.

You looked even better

from that height,

where I could stay

just out of sight

& make believe I’d written

silly poems

just for you.

Even then I knew

I’d spend my days

in your company.

What I didn’t know,

what I couldn’t see,

was how exactly it would all go,

that I’d waste a decade

chasing dreams,

the recurring nightmare

of my life in memes

& all that time,

freedom

was always only

a whisper

away.

So now the make believe

is done,

pretending’s over,

fantasies spun.

Instead of settling

we have won,

although the bloom

is all but consumed;

& we are left

slowly wilting

in the sun;

but we shine

& the aroma’s stronger

now—potpourri &

vintage

wine.

We climb together now—

the balcony is closed

but the curtains of our stage

are just now opening wide,

as we perform in repose;

& who knows

how long it’ll take

before we wilt away.

I won’t even allow

my mind to wander there,

anymore.

Instead, I’ll bask

in the glow

of the love that would grow

from a passing scent as I walked

past your door.