spring invaded winter
confused buds fought battle to bloom
only to be struck down
flattened and waterlogged
by the next surprise storm
II
kinship’s flower shared in a garden’s suffering
torn from the vine and scattered
its paper-thin petals
unrecognizable
as they lay shredded and fallen
to the wind
yet again
dead now
in the wake
of your last uncharacteristic
unseasonal
march monsoon
III
its like having an abusive lover, she remarked
blows come unexpectedly
with no rhyme or reason
until one day you wake up
realizing that you, too
are done
IV
i dreamt of your aloneness
fretted about who would care for you
even imagined inviting you in to share our home
if the worst came to pass
i have waited at your door
to hear of your suffering
to hold you as you cried your fears
offering you the width and berth of alone time
in the hopes that you would know
where to turn always unconditionally
V
we carefully sealed the envelope
containing an anonymous gift
only meant to ease an unspoken burden
and in return
you chose the blade
to decimate this garden’s grace
and finally, i, too
am done