I have to lock you up again
Because if I speak of you
I will lose you
Like many times before
And again and again
I know I won’t lose you
But it’s my heart always
Lying to me of what’s in store…
And this gold key I dearly hold
With an age old locket my golden friend…

She Gathered Lilacs
by Michael R. Burch

for Beth

She gathered lilacs
and arrayed them in her hair;
tonight, she taught the wind to be free.

She kept her secrets
in a silver locket;
her companions were starlight and mystery.

She danced all night
to the beat of her heart;
with her tears she imbued the sea.

She hid her despair
in a crystal jar,
and never revealed it to me.

She kept her distance
as though it were armor;
gauntlet thorns guard her heart like the rose.

Love!—awaken, awaken
to see what you’ve taken
is still less than the due my heart owes!

Published by The Neovictorian/Cochlea, The Eclectic Muse (Canada), Shabestaneh (Iran), Anthology of Contemporary American Poetry, The Chained Muse, Inspirational Stories and Captivating Poetry (Anthology)

Keywords/Tags: Love, lilacs, hair, wind, secrets, locket, starlight, mystery, heart, beat, tears, sea, despair, crystal, jar, distance, armor, rose, thorns, due, heart, owes