The Exquisite Bittersweet

~ The Exquisite Bittersweet ~

There is this beautiful, ethereal garden
that I am ever drawn to
where I am both afraid to stay
and afraid to leave

it is a place so captivating
I feel its hold down to my core
and I am at once lost and found

as I marvel at my surroundings
of moss-covered trees and delicate foliage 
I see only one path before me
 adorned with colorful flowers on both sides

embracing the ambience of the garden
I follow the serpentine path in a dream-like state
but cannot take my eyes off the flowers
I see each bloom, each petal
and I begin to count and wonder:

does he?
does he not?
do I?
do I not?

as I dare release the questions
the wind whispers in response
and the flowers all gently sway in unison
offering their petals to float on the breeze
in a picturesque rendition of hope

airborne, the petals flutter around me 
dipping and rising delicately on the breeze
until I lose count and no longer know 
which were the have’s
and which were the have-not’s
I am just lost in the beauty of their dance

but reality cannot be suspended indefinitely
and this is not merely a carefree dance
they are trying to decide where to land

and land they must
for they are grounded by truth
and I know not on whose truth they will land
or even, which truth is mine

I reach out my hand for a petal to land upon
but they prove elusive and I cannot cradle one

therein lies the Exquisite Bittersweet -
to be awash in blissful serenity
while also knowing that you cannot hold onto
that which does not want to be held

with a soft sigh, I lay down in my dilemma 
feeling the whispering wind brush across my face
as I watch those petals dancing above me
for the moment, ignoring that they have to land

I know I cannot watch them before me forever
and deep down, I know where they will land
but I am mesmerized by the simple joy they bring
summoned by thoughts of you

I am helpless against the inevitable
and so, I always return...


there is this beautiful, ethereal garden
that I am ever drawn to
you do not know of it
but it is where you live.

© Dahlia Ramone:  February 4, 2024

This was written for Blogophilia Topic:  The Lost City
Prompt: Include a secret place