a single petal fallen from this flower
swaying slowly side to side on its descent
severed, detached from its whole
removed from its heart, body...soul

as it falls, it leaves an emptiness
lacking, this flower wounded, incomplete
leaving a shadow of itself, unwhole
in the petal's place a gap, a hole

slowly dying even before releasing itself
before falling, this petal already lost
long began the descent from its whole
long had the loneliness taken its toll

wilting, withering this weathered petal
leaving this flower fragmented, void
never again will this flower be whole
leaving this shell, this incomplete soul