Valentine’s Day

The rose petals fall

Soft and fragile they litter the ground

Funny how I received your flowers today

Valentine's day

A forceful celebration of love marked by overpriced chocolates and unwarranted expectation

But the roses, they are beautiful

Your funeral almost a week ago

They are beginning to droop, petals gone dark, their time is over

They've done their part

I believe that life is art

A beautiful mosaic we can create and recreate as many times as we want to

There is no limit on colors or shapes or mediums to choose from

Some phases of life so dark it takes years of repainting to get them back bright

And then those times so full of light the blackest of blacks couldn't put it out

Every moment with you was bright and light and colorful

All the shades and hues you showed me I still use

Coloring in spots and retracing old times with a silver lining

Taking lessons as blessings

No matter how dark these times get

Or how many nights I am caught in tears and falling apart

There is nothing dark enough to shadow you out

No amount of fear or doubt

No amount of uncertainty or loss

No amount of anything at all can stand up to what you gave us

Your understanding and forgiveness

Your helping hand and lack of expectation

Your chuckling laugh and endless hugs

You gave me more than I could ever dream of

I know I'm not the only one

Your life was short

But the mosaic you created is one of the most stunning masterpieces I have ever seen

I smile as I watch it bleed into everyone you loved

Swirling together into colors yet to be named

Giving us all something so inspiring that we will never be the same

You were something, so bright and full and loving

I'm so grateful to have been able to paint with you