“That doctor’s cologne, my soul’s food
What I began, will Edward conclude?
His whiff, that love, which lingers in my room”
Poor Jane, knows not, it’s her last bloom!

Canada! Lord’s blessing, in the face of fall
Falling maple leaves, stark blooms, too enthrall
As Jane gapes thru window, each vista to consume
Amidst bliss’s splendid show, her last bloom!

When chemo burns her body, and her golden locks
She cradles in her heart, that love, awaits his knocks
Like a ferry in a tempest, defies destined doom
A lovelorn bird, in her nest, awaits her last bloom!

She asked the nurse, on round, “Is Edward married?”
A woman overawed a girl, with a passion, often parried
“Would love to read, that man, beyond that perfume!”
Nurse’s “No!” made Jane aglow, afore her last bloom!

His smile is the gist of awe, for this nubile lass
The woman in her, blossomed, not to last, alas
“Oh Papa! Would he agree, be my cherished groom!?”
Papa’s heart, torn by her plea, on her last bloom!

“I see thru him, a man who would, save his princess
What cancer is, to breast? When I feel, his curing caress!
Is worth a million lives, I live. O’ my heart, abloom”
This fest of love, will she outlive, thru her last bloom!?

A daddy’s darling dear, lost to cancer, her fear
And a mother too, breast-fed by, Papa’s care
Bestowed with Mama’s smile, to shove away, their gloom
A barren body, a soul fertile, on the way, her last bloom!

Chemo failing, cancer bourgeoned, thru her ailing chest
Edward said “It’s time Dear! To part, with your breast”
“You took my heart, what’s left now, let anything loom”
A death-shy woman, made a love vow, over her last bloom!

A bald and breastless Jane, smiled to herself, in mirror
“O God! You turned me a woman, in time, this ain’t anyone’s error
You gifted me, panacea of love, for my soul to subsume”
Immortal feels, solaced lovedove, upon her last bloom!

As Edward sat beside her, caressed her ashen face
Asked, “How many days left?” wretched woman, on final chase
“Kiss me now, before death, fills my soul’s vacuum”
That kiss, his lips or heart giveth, O’ to bless her last bloom!

How helpless lies, her love, forsaken, by her side
A starving orphan unsuckled, by an unwed bride
Lives on heartful doles of pain, this stray, belongs to whom?
A love married, to a death profane, ahead of last bloom!

She braved it all, daddy’s daring doll, afraid of love though
“This woman has, nothing at stake, but to wean, from this woe?
A life possessed, by newfound love, may the Lord bless, to resume
When reborn, that undone dream, until, unless, my last bloom!”

© 2015 Vikas Chandra