Each one a sense of hope and promise
Each one a blissful fantasy
How many petals must be plucked before it lasts?
This rose is starting to look skinny

One brought me assurance of my self
One gave me company
One showed me a world of possibilities
One pushed me to aim for the stars
Each boy an intense epiphany
I cherish our friendship, however brief

But alas, the selection process is harsh
By one way or another it wasn’t meant to be
So I leave each one of you my poetry
The words I left unsaid
When they could’ve mattered
Words thought best kept unread
Till I finally was free
Of the crushing grasp you held over me

If it takes all my petals
I must go on
And find the one.