Petals
Petals is a reflection on the quiet tension between hope and doubt. It takes inspiration from the familiar ritual of plucking petals one by one, caught in the question of “she loves me, she loves me not”. A simple act that can carry surprising emotional weight.
On the edge of your mercy
I’ve been falling on my knees
I wilt faithfully
When the earth has grown silent
All the petals will merge and fly
As I wilt faithfully
When the chill in the night cuts through you
And the screams in the air call to you
Do you give up your life, when the torches alight
When the storm winds are hungry howling
Do you fall down and throw the towel in
Will you give up your life when they call you to sacrifice
With the grinding of minutes
So the gears have been counting time
Here lies agony
But the clock has grown silent
Still the air for my fading cries
Here lies agony
When the chill in the night cuts through you
And the screams in the air call to you
Do you give up your life, when the torches alight
When the storm winds are hungry howling
Do you fall down and throw the towel in
Will you give up your life when they call you to sacrifice,
when they call you to sacrifice
On the verge of forgiveness
I am falling on your knife
I wilt faithfully
Now the earth has grown silent
All the petals have settled now
Please remember me
©2026 Christopher Matthew Smith