The Flower Arrangement

He wasn’t meant to leave the world so soon

We were destined to be together forever

Plans were made, but never came to be

A bullet put an end to what should have been

First responder, hero, love of my life

Gone in the blink of an eye

And the life we could have had

Would happen never

~~*~~

The flowers arrived in the afternoon

My birthday—the first I’d spend alone

And honestly ignored because, who cares?

Well, he did…

He cared enough to have ordered ahead of time

The card, hand written and signed

“With all my love, forever and ever”

And decorated with hand-drawn hearts and flowers

Yellow roses and baby’s breath

Because he knew how I loved the scent

~~*~~

The flowers arrive every year

The florist's longest arrangement, she claims

The cards, pre-written and signed

(She won't give them up

God knows what it cost)

They never fail to appear for

Valentine’s Day and my birthday

A reminder of a love never matched again

In all the years of my life