To wither, vanish,       fade and diminish,
dissolving   in   a   glass          half-empty   that   forgets,
whilst   growing   in              Time's   passage
   and   ever   shrinking           with   age
-is to wither, vanish, fade,            and diminish.

Darling   I   heed   thy   cries   as            you   feel   blemished,
and   are   otherwise   becoming   nearer         to   Death   than   to   me;
yet  I   cannot   see   the   petals   for           the   rose   ye   be,
or   at   times   sense   what   scents            linger   in   your   train
-as you wither, vanish, fade         and diminish.

However   in    perfumed                 decay,
I   watch   you   sustain               your   image,
and   persevere   in   a                  glass   that   I
changed   out   and                     made   half-full,
being   so   careful   when                    putting   you   back   in   it
-but still you wither, vanish,            fade and diminish.

The day has come and you               have gone away,
and I feel a                  familiar agony!
as I display you finally             in a heavenly vase,
for my good-intentioned                  and religious ceremony.
It hurts             so bad...
-tho I will no longer              see you to
wither, vanish, fade and diminish.