why pretend a flower shies away as it blooms?

in plain sight it unabashedly unravels each petal

day by day, mother peeling away 

the skin of its fruit for an anxious child

yet one day, we set our gaze on the horizon

smell spring humming through the air

and resign ourselves to believe,

yes. this is one of those inevitable things

you turn your back and it has happened.

in the blink of an eye!

like mother in the kitchen, peeling fruit.

you imagine the sweet juice tickling

as it meanders down your chin

mother? 

                        mother?

cupboards lay barren, 

and mother has wilted

open your eyes, child.

mother's fruit has gone to rot

because you looked away

dedicated to b, for your support even as i struggle to find the words once more