cost, unspoken

Image from MichaelGaida via pixabay

lost
petals gather
in bruised, motionless drifts,
tumbled
against sandalwood screens,
collected heat
dissipated,
fragrance cooled on
soft mist of shuttered rain,
fragile skin
dessicated by
searching tongues of curious wind.

pale tints and bright hues
leach into shadow,
silvery ghosts fading,
as your footsteps
echo
and slowly
recede.