Hooves of Fire's Poetry Journal

Artificial Flowers

Artificial Flowers

(Dedicated to my human's older brother)

Artificial Flowers
decorate dad's grave
And have for a while
since June they have waved

Waved through the summer
long into the Fall
Lasting so long now
Still today they stood tall

Tall like my brother
who gently set them down
At his dear father's grave
on his way out of town

Town once thought of
as home to us all
Been many long years
since we've all come to call

Call to daddy alive then
so kind and so strong
He left us so suddenly
Without saying so long

Long I did mock them
once upon a time
Those artificial flowers
so tacky, such a crime

Crime against what?
my logic wasn't there
Those artificial flowers
were put there with care

Care that has lasted
throughout two long seasons
Putting to shame
my assumption unreasoned

Unreasoned indeed! Who cares
what those flowers are made of?
It's clear now at last
they were put there with love

Love as strong as my own,
and, yes, just as real
Though my brother doesn't always
Feel just what I feel

Feel though he does
of this I am sure
My own artificial tulips
Since December 30th do endure

Endure through the snow
and the ice, wind and tears
If we could talk now at last
it might ease our fears

Fears for the future,
regret, loss and pure pain
Artificial Flowers
have outlasted the rain......