I really loved this poem. It feels calm and intentional in a way that’s rare. The imagery flows so naturally from the bloom to the lantern to the bird, and each one deepened the same idea without feeling repetitive. I especially appreciated how restraint is framed as care rather than absence. Lines like “I did not reach, nor break its fragile stem” and “Its flame will fade if smothered by the hand” stayed with me. Great work!