Flowers Once Again

Dear Friends,

I want to advise that this is an emotional poem. I realize many of my poems might elicit strong feelings of sadness, so I am going to be more mindful in presenting them.

So. This poem. It is about five years since my dad was put on life support after weeks sick with the flu. It was such a difficult time, in between hope and despair. I always thought, each day coming home from the hospital, how he would love the flowers blooming along the walkway to our front door. I know Tara thought of him admiring them upon his return home. But he never returned, at least not in his physical form.

So each late spring, the fragrant jasmine and roses bring a sweet sadness to our hearts. But it gets easier each year.

Here is my poem on this. It is for Tara as much as it is for me.

Your Friend,

Danny

—

HOW ARE YOU THESE DAYS, by Danny Whitty

So we somehow came this far

The way and the how obscured
Among weeds and wildflowers

The jasmines are all enchanting us again

And those roses also

This is the first time
Since then

That I can smell them absorb them

Without my heart

Splitting open

And flooding onto the walkway

That your feet
Never returned to.