• sitting around the table with her peers,
    she smiles a fake smile.

    21 candles on the cake, a number
    for every year she's died a little inside.

    wearing hues of blue and silver,
    she is like a being of the moon and the sea,
    white gloves over her small, scarred
    hands - like a modern princess.

    but her crown has been taken away,
    she's been kicked out of her tower of peace
    and there's no dragon to guard her.

    and so, determined - she learns
    she has to guard herself, from
    heartache, pain and loss.

    trained in the art of swordsmanship,
    she can go out at night, no
    bodyguards - she is her own keeper.

    so, even with her friends -
    she keeps her mask on, that
    pretense of nonchalance.

    taking the blue rose off her closed eyelid,
    she opens one blind eye to them.
    mismatched eyes of green and blue
    stare - as if she could look through souls.

    they sit stiffly, unnerved - she smiles
    crookedly, reminding them of why
    she'll never trust them again.

    placing the rose eyepatch across
    her one, cerulean eye - the blood runs
    down - crimson tears.

    they always say, take the thorns off....
    but to remove the thorns,
    and leave only the soft petals
    would leave it vulnerable, like
    she once was.

    but she can remain beautiful,
    a combination of petals and thorns,
    she is the legendary blue rose.