A Very Helpful Lad

A Single Nonet poem written for Week 4, Poetic Explorations, based on a true incident in my youth.

I was a helpful lad, bright at four,
listening to each word spoken.
Be careful what you tell me.
I always want to help.
"Are the flowers not
what you wanted?"
I heard and
acted.
Gone!

Author's Notes:
A Single Nonet that has nine lines with a syllabic pattern of 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 for each line.  It can be on any subject and rhyming is optional.

Two other versions of this form are also available--a Reverse Nonet with the reverse pattern of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9; and a Double Nonet with a pattern of 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.