Petals and Thorns

Gazing at your scarlet spiral of petals,
Dappled with dew,
I marvel at your beauty,
And wish I had it too.

I sought to preserve your perfection,
Plucking you from your honored place,
And admiring your bloom,
I conspired to bring you to a vase,
Ensuring your beauty's doom.

As I pulled you from your home,
I pricked my thumb upon a thorn,
And drew a drop of blood,
A borrowed tear forlorn,
It splattered on the mud,
A flower's forgotten lament.

***
I left her in a pot,
And watched her atrophy,
I never found the joy I sought,
In pursuit of preserving beauty.