A Gift

first published when I was in high school

                   i give you my flower,
                                        here,
                                     sorry it’s wilted,
                             i guess the wind did it,
                       i ran as fast as i could,
                             it was pretty on the stem,
                                      but it’s changed now,
                            it’s sad,
                                  maybe it didn’t want to be picked,
                          but it’s a gift of love,
                              so please accept it,
                                  i wouldn’t have brought it
                              if i could find
                                  Another way to say
                                    “I love you.”

                                       jma/1972