Petals red as lipstick
and soft, delicate leaves
adorn the curved stem
stretching toward open sky,
blue canvas with perfect
cotton puff brush strokes,
and throw a great shadow
under the morning sun
The flower is spotted by
a young boy, whose excited
footsteps lead him to the site,
where its misfortune is his
lucky find, for in a wild
moment of inspiration he
plucks it from the ground
like a hair from his head
Then he brings his trophy
home for the girl he loves,
but her flower pots and
vases are already filled; she
smiles at his foolishness, flings
the flower into the grass and
walks away, while he looks
bitterly at the lipstick red petals