love bomb

he sent me flowers,

wrapped in promises.

stems like wires,

love bombs hidden

in every petal.

he told me that

he would

send flowers

every week

because that

was proof that he

loved me.

and i believed him.

reveled in the attention

because i knew nothing else.

but eventually

love bombs

explode

and paint

the sky

with their ashes.

i was

the lucky one

who survived

the nuclear fallout,

who hid in bunkers

until the air

was safe

to breathe again.

but next time

i fall in love,

i'll make sure

i find someone

who doesn't

buy me

flowers.

because flowers

are not a substitute

for love,

nor are they

a synonym.