Daisy Chain Dreams

i.

she taught him to make daisy chains,
and they sat in the summer sun
and tangled their flower-laced dreams into the wind,

letting their white petal wishes spell out letters
on the thirsty grass.

-
the birds in the air
screeched and soared;
she saw his envy
and taught him how to fly without wings.
-

they looped flowers over their bodies and giggled
until
dusk teased the goosebumps from their skin
with gentle fingertips.

---

ii.

she's a poet now, and he's a musician,
and neither have time for silly things like daisy chains
or starving grass.

they meet in silver buildings that are too loud,
and they can't scream over the silence
so they just nod and pretend they don't remember
what the world used to sound like.

---

iii.

they are children
with pink cheeks and sun-kissed skin
and wilted flower halos.

her dreams of him are
fleeting.

---

iv.

she's learning that
daisy chains can't hold her life together,
that the grass is always thirsty
no matter where she runs to,
that lemon balm promises
never last.

---

v.

and he's learning that
the sound of birds and laughter
is always hiding somewhere,
and that if he listens close enough
he can almost taste the pollen that was on her lips
when they were still young
and their hearts were still beautiful.

---

vi.

and they're both learning that
daisies can't grow in bitter hearts,
that sunshine only kisses those who welcome it
with open arms,
and that the days were shorter when they played with
flower chains and good luck charms.