Tender Only to One

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Tender only to one 
Tender and true 
The petals swing 
To my fingering
Is it you, or you, or you?

Tender only to one
I do not know his name
And the friends who fall 
To the petals’ call
May think my love to blame.

Tender only to one 
This petal holds a clue 
The face it shows
But too well knows 
Who I am tender to.

Tender only to one,
Last petal’s latest breath
Cries out aloud
From the icy shroud
His name, his name is Death.

© Stevie Smith