The Lily and the Violets

She only blooms for me once or twice a decade now.

Her brilliant white petals reach out and just the tips brush my cheek

We were planted in the same garden
Weeds grew and were plucked,
Unsettling the earth between us
Amazingly allowing us both, at times,
To fly.

We flew together
Then she to Mars and myself lost to the questionable Neptune.

We always come back to the same ground
Whose weeds they were, no longer matter.

This year she bloomed as I was dying and
Her gentle presence reminded me of who I am
And who I love.

Once again our seasons have fallen out of sync,
Only catching each other for a moment
Before or after birth
Before or after death

She flies all the time now
From shore to shore
From man to man…

I am once again firmly planted
Purging my weeds, pruning my violet petals

Still, between us there is love,
There is respect,
There is understanding

There are no words for the connection beyond environment.

There is this comfort -
Knowing that in our last autumn we will find our roots,
Enclose each other in our withered leaves
And shelter each other from the coming winter.