Poetry - Love

The Last Mementos of You

I cannot throw these
last roses away
even though
their dry crusty petals
remind me
of all I want to forget.

They try
not to crumble,
these last
mementos of you
are like thorns jutting
through the sidewalks
of the foggy streets
of you and I
leading to the fluorescent pink
beams of the 24-hour café
they bathe me
in a cruel
loud light.
A hot reminder
of parfaits and
maraschino cherries
melting away
like ice cream