kiss

it was nothing more than a rainy day
which brought these branches to the ground,
cacophony of falling water splits bark,
plucks blossoms
before they bloom.

she knew all this,
from her vantage under the bridge,
expecting the water to rise.

but instead she found a world mesmerized
by its own chaos--
a river from the sky pouring
just steadily enough
to leave no room for interpretation:
this was the end,
with nothing to cling to

but she remained ankle-deep in the mud,
bare calves flushed grey with rising chill.
it was the progression that most pleased her,
as the tingling crawled up her skin
like cool fingers leaving numbness
in their wake,

as they took from her
all that she was and freely gave,
and left her with nothing but
the taste of indifference on her lips.

for this flow would sweep past
even without her to be carried by it.

--
Title and the rainy day by the creek are prompts. Make that two not poetry days.