The Peony

If I close my eyes tightly 

I can remember the perfect form of the peony.

Fragile yet strong

Colourful, ephemeral.

I can remember it even though

Petals have fallen and returned to the earth.

I can remember it even though

It lived briefly, and was banged about by rain, sleet, hail. 

I will think of it often through the dark days.

Flowers will form anew next spring 

– different, but vivid reminders of those from before. 

I see the shadows and the light. 

If I open my eyes widely. 

A friend of mine died recently. She was 10 younger than me, and her death was sudden and was a shock. I hadn’t talked to her in a while, but we worked together for years, and always had great conversations about so many things, sometimes light and fun, sometime deep and difficult. I will miss her so very much. I tried to write a Haiku about peonies since she love those flowers; but, I needed more words.

Peonies just don’t last long enough.

© Christopher M Buddle 2022