Aurora Magazine 2018

The Marriage Flower

J I L L J E F F R I E S

It began as a seed Slim odds for success

Struggling against nature of the human kind Burrowing in it did, patiently waiting to emerge

Conditions were right Over time root did take

Bonding with soil for survival and strength Watered and nourished it began to grow

Stable in its footing Pushing through dirt

Kissed by breezes, warmed under nurturing sun Flourish it would under skies dashed with blue It felt adoration Growing full and lush Bringing joy to all with its fragrance and beauty Delicate and graceful it was happy, beginning to thrive In time it stood steadfast Tenacious and tall Weeds grew close for an intimate peek Sizing up its success and searching for imperfections Sun blazing for days Water recedes to a trickle Leaves turn brown and a petal floats ground ward Ants arrive to colonize, unsettling its drying foundation Weeds took to choking Where was the love? No matter its effort it was left unattended Wholly betrayed by elements that’d once been so giving Mourning the loss of an empty space left…

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