The fragile green growths sought the sky

against all reason,

for the label had specified mid to late spring,

and here they were mired in a blustery February.

Unconcerned with the time,

the ambitious tulips continued their rush

toward maturity

edging ever closer to the day when they would be admired

by a girl, green as the blooms she picked.

Her mother claimed it was due to global warming most certainly,

Dad said that the frost would get them soon -

but the young girl with eyes of tomorrow

did not seem to hear them

as she stepped out into the bracing wind

to check on the progress of her flowers.