Lily in the storm

A still wind in the sanctuary of my mind's eye and a lily standing still in the rushes of a field of long grass. Her whispers carry to me, rustles in grass. Its sweet, melodic and tragic.

The grass beneath my bare feet feels cold to the touch, her voice drawing me closer. Rest she tells me to heal your open wounds, I will look after you till the morning kisses your face and the harshness of a lonely moon can wound you no more.

Her sweet caress and intoxicating scent lull me into a restful sleep, my soul finds peace in her tender embrace and she sings once more, a tragic, sweet melody of hopes, dreams and things to come.

I can breathe.

There's a howl and a chill, her voice becomes an inaudible whisper in the rustle of leaves and then the rumble of thunder. Her song becomes a hum in the chaos of a monstrous sympany of thunder as lightning streaks the sky.

Cold tears drench my bare skin, mist clouds my vision and terror clings to my chest. She tries to calm me again but her words cannot reach me and as I reach for her the wind roars in my ears blanketing her words in another mournful howl.

Then all grows still, the wind grows still once more and only an indignant murmur in the trees breaks the silence before that too is gone.

She lies in my arms, smiling gently. I ask what it was she was trying to tell me and she touches my cheek softly.

"I belong elsewhere my darling, I was never yours to have."

I ask why but she doesn't answer as she strokes my face lightly, her delicate smiling never fading though she seems to wither.

"I cannot stay, I could've stayed in this field forever but ...it cannot be.." she whispers, her petals starting to wither and with one last gentle caress she's gone.
Scattered to the winds..

And then there is the solitary moon, and a prayer for the dawn.