She watches as the ivory petals swirl

along gold laced with diamond-studded stem.

She watches as they comb through sister’s curls;

poor sibling’s tears fill eyes up to the brim.



Olive sparkles, dances in the light.

Veins rimmed with jewels, the leaves spread out their wings.

Her sister will go dance again tonight,

leaving her alone without fine kings.



The orchid’s flowered face purses and nods;

it scrunches in approval of its toil.

The fates were chosen, sealed by all the gods:

one sister wins; the other’s left to spoil.



She leaves with flowing hair, a wave and smile,

ignores her sister drowning all the while.