La Poésie de la Lune

by bearsbeetsbattlestargalactica

I never understood exactly what that word meant. Beauty. What was it that made someone beautiful? Full lips, wide eyes, sloping cheekbones, flawless figure? But how did someone define flawless? How did they rank someone on a scale of one to ten based not on their mind, not in the beauty embedded in their veins, but in their skin? (Now an ongoing series!)

7. For Peony

A/N: Thanks to all reviewers! Here's the poem of the day, 'For Peony', written from Cinder's point of view. Written while listening to "Stuff We Did" from the Up soundtrack (because sadist Disney needs good music to make us cry). Anyway, hope you enjoy, and please review!

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For Peony

we were not sisters by blood,

not by genes, not by strands, strings

of double-helix DNA

we did not share a mother, or a father

but we did share every day

###

when i first emerged, hazy-eyed

from the endless dreams i'd dreamt

you were the only one that loved me

the only one that cared

not for the invisible crown atop my head

but for me, titanium parts and all,

my mechanical heart, beating like a clock

tick tick tick tick tick

###

you did not punish me

for my aberrations, hold me at fault

for my many rusty flaws

you did not call me names

behind my back or to my face

###

instead, you took my hand, smiled brightly,

so bright you eclipsed the sun,

and accepted me, steel and wires and all

without another word, without question

as if it was what you intended to do

all along

###

i wanted to be there for you

when you needed me most

i wanted to be there for you

haul you up into my arms

and hold you close

while you coughed up blood

and stars knew what else

###

i wanted to save you

like you saved me

but i was too late

too slow

###

now i live in a palace of silver and gold

and live the life you only ever dared to dream

and all i have to remember you by

is a pot of pink peonies on my terrace

a vase on my dressing table

a single blossomy head tucked beneath my pillow

sunburst orange and faded pink, flush with spring

###

in the language of flowers, peonies mean

many things: riches, honor, romance, prosperity

an omen of good luck for marriage

a pretty flower to tuck behind your ear

###

but to me, in my secret language, the one

that is not made up of words, but heartbeats

peonies mean only the sister

with the laughing eyes

who wanted only to wear a silver dress

and dance, just once, with a prince

###

they mean only the sister,

the one related not by blood, by DNA

but by what lays in my heart,

the human part, love

###

they mean only the sister

i was not able to save

###

i'm sorry

so sorry

###

my peony

###

why did you have to leave

###

if only you could see me now

standing face-to-face

instead of looking down

from the stars above