A Perfect Tulip

A contest entry

The Perfect Tulip


I am a tulip
Not too big
Not too small
I'm just perfect for you all

My life begins as a bulb
give me water and some food
watch me grow straight and tall
I'm just perfect for you all

Arrived in Persia
A few centuries ago
Never climb or even crawl
I'm just perfect for you all

Not too elegant
Shades not too bright
Not too romanti-call
I'm just perfect for you all

Watch your feet
Don't kick me over
Pretty strong but I could fall
I'm just perfect for you all

For this poem, I cannot die
Though hibernate, I must
Through the winter and the fall
I'm just perfect for you all

So cut me back
Cover me warm
Bring me inside your hall
I'm just perfect for you all.

If you don't
I'll surely die
Or even put me by the wall
I'm just perfect for you all

In the spring plant my bulb
The yellows and the pink
Watch me grow straight and tall
I'm just perfect for you all

As a tulip, I've done my best
being a flower to win this contest.