Beneath the Bird Cherry Tree

You gave me a sprig of bird cherry blossoms,

in return I handed you my heart.

My palms on your chest

yours around my waist,

we stood there till the west sky’s orange rim faded.

.

Your lips, velvety, whispered near my ear

spilled promises about forever times.

Our breaths entwined, inseparable

lines blurred, time immeasurable,

we forgot where we ended and began.

The moon sketched shadows on our bare skin,

art more beautiful than I'd ever seen.

.

Steam and shivers

flowed down my spine

when you feverishly whispered:

darling, love me.

.

love me with your essence

love me with your flesh

love me with every breath you have left

love me always, everywhere

love me when the pain is too great to bear

love me through the trenches and the fear

love me through the laughter and the tears

love me when you unfold my written word

love sent from the other end of world

.

and I loved you, darling

.

I loved you with all there is to me

I loved you with invisible and seen

I loved you when summer woke once more

I loved you more than each day before

I loved you through longing and the fear

I loved you despite destiny unfair

I loved you when they brought you home

I loved you when you were lowered six feet down

I loved you.

Then I whispered by your head

I always loved you. Everywhere.

I loved you when pain was too great to bear.

I love you now

when pain is still

too great to bear.

.

Fresh-cut flowers on your grave now every Sunday,

bird cherry blossoms when the season sparks.

Same promises we shared years ago,

spill over lips each time I kneel by you.

What is gone is gone, you told me then, remember?

What must come, will come to us in any way.

.

That night beneath the bird cherry tree

still lives on, vivid in my dreams.

I close my eyes and for a while it feels

you’re by my side once more,

canvas for the pale moonbeams.