thorns and other maladies

27

how do i explain
that the meadow didn't know much sunshine.
that the flowers didn't expect any sun at all.
that the flowers actually appreciated
the few moments that the sun peaked out.
that the meadow knew very little of rain.
that the flowers thought the thirst was normal.
that the flowers felt high-maintenance for craving it.
that the flowers assumed any water at all
was a privilege in and of itself.
that the grass just assumed
that flowers don't live long.
that wilting is natural in blossoms.
that dying is needed to bloom.
that asking for good soil
meant asking to be ripped out of the ground.
that the meadow believed it was happy.
that the meadow believed it was natural.
that the meadow didn't know anything else.
that the meadow loved.
that the meadow craved being loved.
that the meadow believed love meant
sacrificing all of it's flowers.
that the meadow only just realized
that it does not exist without them—
that the death of it's flowers
was killing it too.
that the meadow still doesn't know
how much sun it actually needs
or how much rain is too much.
that the meadow does not know if it will ever know
but it is still trying very hard to learn.
that the meadow still wants to love
but it only knows how to kill itself.
that the meadow is trying.
that it's flowers are trying.
that the meadow
is still just barely
alive.