The Dahlia (Betrayal)

Sincerity is a great but rare virtue, and we pardon to it much complaining, and the betrayal of many weaknesses. - Thoreau

standing at the sharp, cutting edge of time

overlooking in-and-out splash of foaming sea below

i toss down the gauntlet of a white dahlia

is immediately churned in the water

i watch it disappear

up and down with the waves

in and out with the tide

washing over me

out of sight, out of mind

but is it really?

i return

same spot

same time

same thoughts

different day

finding a hundred dark, red ones  clinging to the rocks below

bleeding the water red

clouding blue sky with detached, white petals

displacing what was once right

ushering in dark of night

obscuring trust's light

stirring different things

plying different strings

Author's Note

"I can alter my life by altering my attitude. He who would have nothing to do with thorns must never attempt to gather flowers." - Thoreau