Today’s the day
2 hundred miles

Today’s the day
Thursday after six

I stopped before the ravaged row of roses
Something to free the soul
Flush of fragrance pours over my skin,
Drifting effortlessly towards me
In a balmy embrace.

Carefully tucked it lays,
pinched,
coaxed
and tossed
to perfection.

A single flower,
They say,
Whispers a thousand words.

There she stood.
Stoic like always
Little droplets falling neatly on her face
As I walk past unfamiliar names.

I set the flowers down next to
its withered friends

I’ll be back next week, mother.
Thursday after six.