Petals - Beth Orton

Petals pour from themselves in a synchronized swim

They’d been held to the stem as though holding their breath'

Collectively they agree to exhale and be free

Now one after another they tumble silently

Oblivious to me

The ashes of last night

Sigh into a heap

Petals pour from themselves in a synchronized swim

I am woken in a moment as they break the air

Disintegrate integrate with resigned grace

Lining up to jump they remind me of tears

Sudden and many fall

I look to you

Your empty chair

And then I remember

Why there’s lilac in the air

My tears well up and cry for you

My tears well up and cry for you

My tears well up and cry for you

My tears well up and cry for you

There’s wet in my hair and I never knew

My tears well up and cry for you

My tears well up and cry for you

My tears well up and cry for you

My tears, my tears

My tears, my tears

My tears, my tears…

These are my tears