Nycthanthes

Nyctanthes  I sat under a tree A flower fell into my lap I reached for it gently And held it in my palm I looked at it closely Was it weeping? Silently breathing?   Breathtaking (I couldn't tell) I held it by its stem And turned it around Petals in slow motion Swirling tenderly  Was it trapped in a spell? Released from a dream? Secretly courting me? I couldn't tell It had five white petals Of uneven shape And a red-orange stem Bejeweled in dew Can you tell me from where  Have you arrived  To the destination  Of my lap? Earthy dew-monger Tender lap-lander Fairy Princess, or Prisoner of dawn? I held it close to me And closed my eyes It drew me in, to the  Mystique of its fragrance  Everything around me Appeared frozen in time  I was held in a state  Of suspended animation  What timely augury From your timeless world Have you gathered For me?  I lifted my head up And sensed something move  A snake slithering on a branch Hissing its fangs at me -Loki Muthu