cherry blossom

they arrive like guests

unannounced

uninvited

but welcome

as if they were never gone at all

soft spoken creatures

draped in pale pink

like secrets almost told

they do not bloom loudly

they hesitate

petal by petal

as if asking the air

is it safe yet

is it safe to be seen

and the wind

oh the wind knows them well

it teases their hair loose

coaxes them into laughter

until they let go

until they fall

choosing a different path

each blossom a small surrender

a gentle yes

to gravity

to time

to the ache of being temporary

they never cling too tightly

never demand to stay

they understand something we don’t

that beauty is not less

for leaving

that to exist briefly

and fully

is its own kind of forever

and still

they remind me of myself

in the way they tremble

in the way they gather together

clustered like whispered conversations

afraid to be alone

but afraid to be together forever

you could say

they are fragile

but that wouldn’t be right

they return every year

after all

even knowing

how it ends

i wonder

if this year

one will stay behind.