blunted bouquets

 

down the aisle 
I watch him give her

a bouquet of flowers 
as she blushes in return 
if only I could do that too 
 
I watch them both smile 
mouths curled into an
"I love you" 
a simple phrase, no doubt 
but hush 
we must never say it out 
aloud 
 
do you take this man 

to be your lawfully wedded husband? 
I hope she says yes 
for all the people like me 
who fill our hearts 
with half-eaten words 
to justify that

our love is not a sin 
 
I look at all these flowers

I will never be able to give 
these blooms in passion

we must never speak of 
archaic, like deflowering 
I watch her kiss him 
fuck, these straight couples

don't know how lucky they are 
 
like flowers unto light 
I guess we all just need

some warmth in this cruel world