pain and promise

i often wonder

why people say blood blossoms

like it's a flower.

perhaps pain is just

a fleeting cherry blossom

fading in the street.

or a ritual,

repeated annually

'til you turn to dust.

when we pass this pain,

that blossoms from life's cruel tree

will we get a boon?

indeed, for flowers

bear fruit that shines deep red like

apples or cherries

maybe blood blossoms

because it's a beautiful,

rose-tinted ending.