Ephemeral

A Daylily love can be destroyed by an English Ivy mist.

The sparkles of sunlight float around you,
You move the oar with purpose and an easy smile.
You say you love me like a Daylily,
Like it could last forever,
But it never does.


Your dress drenches as water crashes into our boat.
Around you the sunlight's sparkles disappear,
Overtaken by English Ivy mist.
I squint to see you,
Your oar falls away like the Pappus of the Dandelions on your dress.
The sky turns velvet red as a winter's Rose.


Our fragile boat competes with the mountain waves.
The gray mist grows down our throats,
Choking us,
But we hold each other in a loving embrace,
Until you slip away and we flip into the Black Hellebore water.


I had no warning,
I never do.
I spit out the poisonous water as I swim to land,
Limbs heavy like branches,
Leaving you to sink,
Knowing I'm not allowed to help.


I stand alone on the island of fruit trees,
Without you to sweeten them to bloom.
Why must I always taste a bitter love?
You leave me bewildered as you allow yourself to drown,
Not fighting.
If only you had trust enough to stay,
Let me help.
We could both taste the sweet fruit of love.


From the shaking branch,
My teeth break through the hard outer peel of the fruit.
I know the taste all too well,
It stings my mouth without another bite.
Bitter.
All I'll ever know is a bitter apple kind of love.