Red Chrysanthemums
Dan Koosed

There are three girls.

One is standing in the sunlight,

cradling a red chrysanthemum

like a newborn baby, the hope of the world.

The second is veiled by shadow,

black hair and soft lips,

Lamenting a love, bright but fading.

The third girl stares with the clearest green eyes,

stares at everything from that rain to these tears,

with lips sweet

and whispering.