The sad smile

A shaddow of a rose
Seemed to taunt my heart
It was the unforgiving past
That my life had recaught
I asked it why it followed me
So long to be heard
It could not reply
It could not see the word
That was breaking me in two
And on my mind
It's sad smile flew
I did not scare it away
Till the clock struck
Whoever was ready
To reveal
The end of their tether
And fly through the room to that...
Soft as a feather reaching and grasping
For the newest hat;
For the rope or the leather
And darker, and heavier
Fell the thick rose air
With the wonky pettle
Or the misshaped hem
Or the perfect smile
On the perfect of men
That was cut too soon
From its perfect stem
Only to be told
It was perfect again.