a petal for the time i walked past and
you turned - or was it to acknowledge my friend?
she's beautiful, i know, but don't you see me too?

a petal for the time you beamed and waved
in my direction, only it wasn't quite to me.
you didn't know i was there, did you?

a petal for the time i sat behind you and
you did turn to stare at me - rather oddly.
i'm sorry, i hadn't meant to be quite so loud.

a petal for the time you picked up my bottle,
smiling, but our fingers never touched.
cliches only exist because they're true.

a petal for the way you glanced at me, as if
your gaze could penetrate through flesh to the other side.
am i nothing, in your eyes?

a petal a petal
a petal

they could've made a rose.

one of those fairytale roses without a thorn.
unblemished, perfect, whole.
they could have.

but even dreams that are on
the brink of being realised are
just about as useful as none at all.

i pluck the last petal off, tossing it
lightly into the wind, where it
bursts into flames, smouldering into - nothing.

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