You knelt by the river 

with a lotus in your hands

you peeled away

the soft pink petals.

One by one they fell

into the gentle stream.

I watched

as you stand;

you caught my eye

across the bed.

I laid my own petals

on the bank too.

An offering

to no deity.

The red flowers

dripped

off my fingertips

turned the river brown.

I scramble

away

as you wade in the water

towards me with steel

eyes.

Your clothes were stained

by my flowers,

my touch of death.

A current pushed

at your feet

nearly sweeping

you away.

I watched you struggle,

two fists holding 

your stained clothes high

as you bare skin kissed

the ruddy red river.

I did nothing to help

just watched on.

Horror, followed by

apathy

as I watched you struggle

to reach me.

Your arms outstretched;

unanswered.

The red river swallowed 

all the lotus blooms.

There’s none left 

to pluck.