This is the part
where everything
changes.
This is the part
like an orchid
requires patience.
This is the part
where the universe
bends
and you fold
the paper
into
flowers.
Cover me in chrysanthemums.
This is the part
where our knees become inch worms
under the table.
Cover me in dirt.
This is the part
that comes on slow at first
then
heavy
urgent
pulses
rush
through
us
adding
impulse
to
injury
manipulating
our insides
twisting
folding
contorting
every nerve
until they
RIP.
But the pieces don’t rest.
This is the part
where the lions roar
like violets showing their teeth
at the sun.
They nibble the flesh
without breaking
the skin.
It’s paper thin.
This is the part
where I ball up my paper fists
and wrestle with the tiger lilies
while you remain at war with my tulips.
This is the part
where we dig up the dirt
and we ruin us.
This is when
the dandelions B U R S T
like supernovas
and suddenly
ev-er-y
syll-a-ble
counts.
This is where
I see your dark side
and learn the true meaning
of the depths in your eyes.
This is the part
where you flip me over
and tell me
“Don’t stop.”
I don’t stop.
Why would I stop?
I can’t
stop.
And
this
is
the
part
where
we
fall
A
p
a
r
t.
Tell me you don’t want this.
Tell me you don’t want this
and I’ll leave this bed of marigold
and
change
my
form.
Tell me you don’t want this
and I’ll never hold your gaze
too l o n g
again.
Tell me you don’t want this
and I’ll unfold myself from your side
along with the paper flowers.
You can take back the roses
fuck the daises
but leave me the daffodils.
Tell me you don’t want this
and our forget-me-nots
will forget us
and our bleeding hearts
will bleed us dry.
Tell me you don’t want this
and I’ll rewind the movie
play it BACK
from the beginning
only this time
we’ll pay
attention.
I’ll silence the lions
and put them BACK in their cages.
I’ll bend
the universe
BACK into
shape.
But tell me you want this
and this will be the part
where we pick the paper petals
off the
stem and
watch them
fall like
cherry blossoms.
He loves me.
He loves me not.
Forget me.
Forget me not.
Ashley Garreau is an English Major with an Art minor, currently taking classes at the University of Wisconsin Parkside. Poetry has always been a passion of hers with photography and painting at a close second.