Blue Waterleaf

I'm doing a mystery poem challenge at swap-bot.com where the moderator gives each participant a line to incorporate into their poem. My line is "petals withdraw, shut and shielded." I just sent this poem out to two partners, and I'll receive two more poems from other people. I'm very excited to use swap-bot because there are a few swaps that involve writing. Here's my poem.

Blue Waterleaf

Her petals withdraw, shut and shielded

From all the pain he has wielded.

In the dark, her frame is wilting

Until her entire world is tilting.

Thorns adorn her skin like tattoos

To protect her from his abuse.

When his shadow leaves her side

And the sun shines forth in the sky,

Her blue petals open one by one

And she stands a little taller in the sun.

But when the night falls again,

Her battered body will hang.

Her petals will withdraw, shut and shielded

From the pain he has wielded.

Eventually falling one by one,

Her petals will wither in the sun.