Cherry petals waft in the moonlight,
Floating down shafts of pale starlight,
You hold me in your arm.
And all around there are fireflies,
Small lanterns in twilight
That flit through the near-night.

A nightingale's bell-like voice rings,
Singing like no other bird sings,
I place my hand in yours
And I ask,
"What is it like to live forever,
Never die like the flowers,
Or wane like the hours?"

Your eyes are that of the moon's hue,
You hold me closer yet to you,
And say,
"What do you mean? I haven't lived forever,
Nor am I ever likely to."

My hand looks so small in your hand,
I try so hard to understand
What you have said to me.
"Then what's it mean to be mortal,
If we can't live forever?
Our lives can be severed."

A petal settles in my hair,
You brush it aside with your fingers,
Your long, slender fingers.
"Mortals are like leaves and petals,
Born to bloom, wane, and expire.
My kind are born at a star's birth,
And live till our star bursts in fire."

"I do not want your star to die,"
I turn my face towards the night sky,
My hand tightens on your sleeve.
"I wish that I were not mortal,
That I could be like you,
And that you would love me,
Until the very end."

Your hair drifts in a gentle breeze,
And glimmers like stars seen through the trees,
It settles on my cheeks.
"But my little Rin, I do love you,
More than any other child in the whole world,
And this shall always be true."

"Forever?"

"And ever."

I bury my face against your chest,
In smooth, warm cloth of pale silver,
I hug you with all my strength.
You finger-comb my night-black hair,
Like father, like daughter,
A single tear escapes my eye,
"I don't ever want to die."

"I will not let you, my little Rin,
Long as you always believe in
The love I have for you.
For as long as we love each other,
I'll be your father, your brother,
There's no true way we can part,
If we are in each other's hearts."

You lift me up to your shoulder
So I can nestle in your hair
As you show to me the stars.
You name the patterns, tell their stories
Till my eyes grow so heavy,
And my mouth widens in yawns.

You lower me gently to your lap,
Lightly touch my tired eyelids.
"Rin, sweetie, it's long past your bedtime,
Why don't you kiss me good-night?"

I pull myself up to your neck,
Kiss the pointed tip of your ear.
I feel the soft pressure of your lips in my hair
As I sink into the soft folds of your robe.
You cover me with your wide sleeves,
Like a father would his daughter.

Cherry petals waft in the moonlight,
Floating down shafts of pale starlight,
You hold me in your arm,
In the safety that your are,
In my dreams I am flying,
Flying high with the stars.

And I will love you forever,
I will not leave you ever,
For deep in our hearts...
...we cannot part.

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Author's, erm, Poet's Note: This is a deeply felt poem inspired by a beautiful piece of Sess/Rin fanart by Silvestris S. Strand. You can see it here at her elfwood gallery: ..html