Apple Blossom
Extinguished glowing bar of light—
Her breath reveals the cold of night
Petals cloak the path toward safety
She grips her staff and turns bravely
Under the foggy longing glow
Leaving comfort before first snow
Floating petal blown asunder
Dreams of rejoining her lover
An apple too large for the tree
Sent to war by royal decree
Plucked for the barrel, tossed to sea
Bobbing adrift, destined for deep
Wind, blow this petal swift, forward
Days away beyond the border
She holds her belly, small embrace
Her journey’s first step, winter’s day
~~~
Floating petal blown asunder
‘Neath peals of lightning and thunder
Pains of labor below the deck
Tear stained note under her neck
One port away from her lover
Hour from spring; last she would suffer
The apple of her eye would see
Did their apple fall from the tree?
The ship’s cook holds up lantern light
Apple blossom shrieks in the night
She holds her baby, small embrace
Her smile shines as her eyes fade
She whispers in the Captain’s ear
Wind, steer my petal without fear
The apple’s found on the shipway
Her babies’ first step, spring’s day
Copyright © 2021 by Matt Antis. Originally published in Poet’s Guild’s Poem-A-Week on April 22nd, 2021, by Ink Jot Kingdom.
