A White Blossom

by Vail Read

A fragile bud, as white as jade,    

on a single jasmine flow’r,     

Perfumes the night outside my window     

this warm silken hour.     

Hush’d as snow in early evening,     

Melting as a warbler’s song in rain,     

It shines, a small white peace in the dark:     

Beauty’s breath, muting pain.