Marble Petals

If you must leave then wipe not that tear,

Rather preserve it within that tomb of resin

Which you yourself have caulked with roses;

Roses that your paper-cut hands

Placed within the reefs of my hair;

Roses with trembling pale white lips,

Clothed by a garment of needles;

We now rest within the nest of a raven,

While we started out from that of a dove's;

And still

I offer nothing but a shaky breath

To water a cloud above your head

So that it may fortify

Your tired eyes

If ever you sigh;

I ask myself

"Do I really dare?"

And from my empty eyelids share

These pecan marbles

That rolled off the leaves

That a single dusty eyelash heaves

From amongst sweet drops of dew

So that even you may see

These broken wings you gave to me