Shadow Flowers

The shadow flower sits unattended,
Alone,
Perhaps near the phone waiting for
Loneliness to be shattered,
Perhaps walking to the mailbox
Knowing it is empty
Perhaps casting jealous glances
At couples at Valentine's Day
Celebrations.

The Shadow Flower
Still blossoms, still
Is beautiful,
Still sits unattended
Falls to the ground with
Only the cold damp earth to
Caress it. A blind nose
may find it,
A deaf eye misses it.

But the next year, the Shadow Flower
Will return again.
Maybe next year it will be in the sun,
Maybe next year the blind nose will
Seek it out
Maybe next year the phone will ring
Maybe next year the mailbox will
Be pregnant.
Maybe next year it won't be alone.

The flower doesn't matter, it is
The plant that flowers.
Feed the plant, nourish it. It is
The way of the plant to find
Just enough sun, just enough water
Just enough nutrients - no more,
No less. Some cannot stand bright sun-
It would be foolish to seek it.

The blind nose will find it.
The deaf eye doesn't matter.

You can find the picture at top here.