When leaving causes tummy aches and separation hurts,

And fog envelopes sunny days and liveliness reverts;

When lilac bushes fail to show their lavender arrays,

And bayberries reserve their blooming for another day;

And anger holds and permeates the roses’ darkest red,

And nothing helps the Queen Ann’s lace to crown her dainty head;

 Then hollyhocks reluctance spreads to every leaf and vine,

As ivy stumbles in its quest to instigate its climb;

And baby’s breath has lost its breath, then gasping to the sky,

And all the violets that are left cannot be fortified;

The black-eyed Susans’ bruises came from growling, viscous winds,

And sunless lilies just complain the valley’s too far in;

Impatiens have grown weary from their hunger for fresh food,

And marigolds aren’t merry in this nasty interlude;

Begonias wish they could be gone–there’s so much absent here.

And in their wait, petunias yawn– and scowl and stare and sneer.

It’s then I note the flora born as I am when you come.

Your absence left the sprouts forlorn and longing for the sun.

But now a shiny nourishment embraces all the land,

And human blooming flourishes like only ours can.