THE WHITE ROSE PAINTED WITH BLOOD

vii - safe by the sea

                the red of her shoes
                  against the smears
of blue gray and white foam
         on the shore
looking like paint
      swirled sloppily together
       smudged and dabbed at
                   with rough fingers
         to create a masterpiece

                   sitting on the cliff
her legs dangling down
the idea of jumping off
                to the rocks below
        no longer gave her fear

here by the sea
          it was safe
      she was in a new world
                        in her solitude
here she didn't have to
                   feel lonely, or cry
                                 in a world
as small as the universe
and as big as alone