Pink Carnations with Black Bow Ties

She gave me a bouquet of pink carnations. No woman has ever done that for me before.

There are seven of them. Around their stems tiny silk ribbons are tied like black bow ties.

I place them upon my bedroom altar. When I awake the next morning my room is filled with

Numinous sunlight. For the first time I notice that the bright pink flowers on the wallpaper that

Covers my bedroom walls are also carnations; the charm of her flowers transforms my world.

But now she is far from my room. When she left she tore herself from my body like a branch of

Maple; sweet syrup still oozes from my wound. All day I weep for her like a child. Her presence

Barely lingers anymore, and the pink carnations with black bow ties are all dead.

She gave me a bouquet of pink carnations. No woman has ever done that for me before.