The Agony of Christ

Pressed between
Leaves
Sleeves
Words
Bleed
Off the page
Of perfection
And time lost
And all the
Betweens
That the
Petal
Preserved
Represents.

Forgotten
Until
By accident
It spills
Forth from
Hands stilled
In memory
Reading the lines
That were so
Purposely chosen
To keep such
Secrets close

Secrets of
Heartache
And beauty
And love
Untold
Of youth
And experience
Found
In the old

This bookmark
Keeps
Through the time
The memories
Needed to teach
And remind
Of trials and
Tribulations
And simpler
Things in
Life
And all
That was left
Behind.

A petal
remains
From the rose
Given
On a first date
Pressed
Between
New and old
To remind
Again
Of the thorn
Prick and blood
Drawn
Temptation
And salvation
Renewal
And beginnings
And days
Of long

Long ago.