Promise Petal by petal Pale in the Pre-dawn light She unfolds Perfuming the air With the slight scent Of trust. Her heart Takes patience to reach Friendship Is not taken lightly At the first sign Of disinterest She shuts. As petals open The dust of emotions Long untouched Powders the ground And she sneezes, withdraws From the presence of pain. As she reopens Her wounds Begin to heal Under a forgiving eye And each petal Opens more easily Than the last Until With the sunrise The last golden-pink petal Folds back. What is found there Is not what is expected There is much darkness To be removed Sifted through Burning the outer petals It happens to touch But once gone She shines. The flower is not perfect A few parts are dying and she trembles Threatening to close At the slightest provocation But after long wait She is open And in the purple blush Of early morning That is beauty enough. Lynette Yorgey