November

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November

Plastic flowers fill a vase                                                      
And wordlessly taunt the blue petunias                               
Scattered throughout the little yard;                                    
“It’s oh-so-warm in here!”
                                             They face                                  
The kitchen window, watching a few of                               
The dainty flowers taste the harsh                                       
Reality of Winter’s chill                                                         
With purplish petals acknowledging                                     
The end of warmth and dropping off                                    
To meet the earth.
                               “A shame!” they trill,                             
“A shame to fall from freezing,”
                 mocking                            
The cobalt flowers flecked with frost.
                                   
The plastic daisies, immersed in plastic                               
Dirt supporting plastic leaves,                                               
Watch as the petunias twist and bend                                 
Their writhing stems like green elastic.                                           
     The aging flowers reply with ease,                                              
     “At least we’ve felt the wind.”                 

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