Please a Flower

© Aug 1993, Alan C Dougall

I passed by someone's garden
and saw a pretty orchid.
`Twas twisted and looked so sad.
I planted it, giving space
and waves of water soaking -
Then dried freely in the breeze.
I spoke into its open core
and breathed life into its bloom.
She smiled and was so happy.
I was pleased at the response
as she turned, watched and waited...
"What more could I say or do?"
Hearts revealed, our roots were weak -
tenderness had cracked high walls.
Past pain known, future fears shown.
Moving fast, you sensed my wants
searching deep within my eyes
Wide open - love I couldn't hide.
A need for strength to say "No!",
though what we shared was not cheap.
More precious - but not the way.
Drawing back from close embrace,
I stole your naked beauty.
"Forgive, Lord, what had I crushed?"
I pointed to the sunlight
so that each year she'd bloom, but
She shifted with my shadow.
She moved with me in moonlight,
and stared at me in darkness -
Nakedness exposed her dream.
She spoke and stirred deep desire
that flickered in the night
Of what I had wished but feared.
She smiled more softly to me;
her eyes lured me to her side.
"Had I tried too hard to please?"
Trying to undo the pain -
love, so simple, so God made,
We had twisted so much more.
Meshed together, we couldn't part -
both victims of the other's trap.
Knowing we had gone too far.
Summer drew its final breath -
desire shared to sow a seed
To fill the need (not the mind).
Driven beyond our limits -
one tear drop said you love me.
"Dare a snowdrop be reborn?"
I beckoned her to brush my trunk
like cool rain drops she pattered -
Unlocking shells around my soul.
I stroked her stem and then stopped,
...But lingered on her silk leaves.
She longed for me to pick her.
I paused at the thought of home,
landscaped gardens, full of weeds:
"Wilting flowers, lacking care!"
But I urged to feed this dream
and smother her in dry soil.
"How could I drown such purity?"
I returned to the garden -
desert dry it had become.
"My smiling flower has gone!"
Your fond touch, your last deep kiss,
your raised head and longing looks
Held me up - right to the end...
Then the brave bark falls, core cracks;
this zombie returns to his home.
'Clear the garden.' 'Lock the gate.'
Empty fields of flowers viewed -
no same turned smile could I find.
"Lord, how can I start again?"
Guilt-numbed, I kissed her gently
and then swallowed her beauty
Drugged by nature's raw nectar.
I held her dainty petals
and devoured the sweet pleasure -
Hidden by her foliage.
Her mouth shone as perfect teeth
and my warmed heart was bitten
Never wanting to let go.
I licked her luscious lip more
and shaped her curly sepals.
"Fire flames flared, how could I stop?"
Ashamed of myself (not love),
I longed to be true to one
Not whom I'd picked once, but you.
What I can give isn't enough
because "Yes" forever spoils -
Pays death to me, then to you.
I want you! (more than before),
but you need His Love (no dream)
To shine True Light on your Way.
One Sacrifice births new Life -
'til that Hope, I share this pain.
"As you want, am I a friend?"

and >> Papillion