Click to enlarge.

in my arms
in my heart
and then letting go
hard, bitter tears

the way a flower grows
and opens
in springtime

enough to break
anyone's heart
bleeding hearts

I loved each petal
unfurling
each stem that rose up
through the earth

and then the soft pink fall
of cherry blossoms
the bruised perfection
of camellia
after a rainfall

the ones
I have really
loved

held in my body
inside my heart, mind,
soul, genes,
bred into the very
bone

ah, those ones

those I have loved
beyond what words
can carry

beyond even the most
guileless line of poetry
or lyrical movement
of music

those I loved
in the intense
silence

of the inner being
in the heart's core

and yet letting go
so much a part
of loving

Copyright by Carolyn Zonailo: www.carolynzonailo.com, 2004