Our Little Cherry Blossoms

seven. maybe

ＮＯＶＥＭＢＥＲ (( ＬＡＲＫ ))

"Alright class, let's start this poetry café with Valerie here."

Our english teacher's fruity voice no doubt reached the ears of every student in the class as everyone settled down in their seats with an air of reverence for the exuberant teacher. The girl called Valerie rose to her dainty feet with an eloquent grace that I haven't seen in anyone but her. Valerie's tame, curly locks were of a golden hue with bronze lowlights trickling subtly from her scalp, carefully blending in with the blonde strands of hair. Her eyes were a ravishing cobalt-grey, complimenting her soft, creamy facial features despite her squarish face. Inhaling soundlessly, I contemplated apprehensively as she opened that delicate mouth to sip in a breath before beginning her poem.

"The smell of fish lingers

on his tangled beard

his eyes

beads dropped in ink

He's like I remember

but different

melancholic

I know why

but I don't say anything

She stares cautiously

afraid almost

yet defiant

My little chrysanthemum

no longer brings me luck

only grief

as I fish in the waters

I recall

the flower she used to be."

An awe-inspired applause rose from the entire class, the sound of skin colliding with each other scraping harshly against my eardrums, as if the praise that Valerie not only earned, but deserved, was bothering me. I was in a bewildered daze as my other classmates presented, one after another until I wasn't able to stomach the resonance of polite applause any longer. Even when it was Helen's turn I couldn't focus with the overwhelming trance I was drowning in. An orotund voice summoned me from despair, yet my face revealed nothing as I walked to the front, possessed. My lips began to move on their own, spouting words that I had not prepared, words with meanings I could not comprehend. What felt like a potpourri of sentiment dripped relentlessly from my tongue, not knowing the end until it did.

"Why did the seashells shatter into ice

Some of the shards melted in their eyes

But they didn't notice, that mischievous glint

that they somehow had gained

from the glass in my mind

Why did the glass wall have to break

Lighting all my lanterns in its wake

Would they, I wonder, realise that

the embers I still have

are burning again

Nothing, I say, nothing will happen

My flickering lanterns will be forsaken

Again and again, without second thought

all this fire

will be gone."

I only heard earth-shattering tranquility as the last line paled into the air, and I wondered strangely if it would be heard again. I was deaf to the reactions of the class while I trudged back to Helen. She spoke teasingly to me.

"You like someone don't you?"

My eyes stared at her in incredulity, vainly scanning her twinkling russet orbs for a trace of humour, or even sarcasm. There was nothing to search for, for her emotions were all perfectly reflected on the surface of my friend. I did not understand why she would say that, but I felt something scalding the back of my head with a furious intensity that I was frightened to meet, yet a disembodied urge forced me to turn around and glimpse the flames which were stinging my mind. The top of my flesh prickled with icy needles as I gazed at the fathomless birdbath which gazed back. It was a dark light, beckoning me, inviting me, closer and clos - I shut my eyes abruptly, whipping around before flying towards the door without looking back.