You are the wild flower in my palm With no stem to keep you anchored to this covetous earth You are the fragile thing I dare not cup, As your petals whittle away under the wind And flit unfettered in the air; Exaggerated fear leaves my fingers numb Hungry need leaves my fingers twitching And my hand is paralyzed by turmoil As every breath of wind takes another petal from me And brings to my lungs, my chest and my heart An overwhelming scent of need- You are the wild beauty in my palm And I dare not hold you to my chest For I fear to crush you To know first hand That caged beauty, is beauty no more.