I saw the rose
Withering and dying in the light of so much sunshine.
At one time it was bright and brilliant
Now it just cowers in the wind and tries not to die.
The leaves were once drenched in color
The stem was once erect and strong as tempered titanium
The morning dew is the tears it cries
I saw the rose. It never raised its weary head
The moon never says good night.
The stars deny their twinkle to its petals
I saw the withering rose and wondered
Wondered why it never asked for water.
It wasn’t on purpose. If I had known that it would ruin her day I wouldn’t have asked. It was just a casual question, just harmless banter. It had been a long, tiring day and this break from the office grind was just what I needed. The clock on the wall of the sandwich shop was ticking at a snail’s pace and the expresso machine was buzzing from the rush of water whizzing through its insides. She was sipping absentmindedly on a cup of coffee as the steam tickled her nose and made her face wrinkle. I turned from the counter and rubbed my eyes as she casually asked me about my weekend. I told her I was going on my usual trip to Egypt and the southern coast of France. She laughed as I asked her was she going to order the steak or the lobster at her Valentines dinner. Her face dropped and there was an uncomfortable pause as she gathered her words and told me Valentine’s Day was a commercially driven enterprise that was only around to make businesses rich. My third eye blinked and I was thinking that sounded like an answer we men give about Valentine’s Day, particularly when we are broke or the woman is really a side piece. I thought she was trying to be funny so I asked her about the weekend plans with her significant other. She tried to laugh and say he didn’t really believe in Valentine’s Day and she was cool because it was just one day and not really important. The friend in me wanted to pursue her obvious emotional distress but the keeper of the man code held up his stop sign so I retreated to a neutral corner. As I grabbed my order, I looked at her solemn face now deep in thought and not as bright as the moment I walked in. I wondered how long she had been making excuses. I wondered how many Valentine’s Days or birthdays or Christmases or anniversaries had gone past without the man in her life really caring that all she wanted was his attention and appreciation. It always amazed me that women could make up so many reasons for a man that didn’t act right, but couldn’t come up with many reasons he should be acting right.
Withering and dying in the light of so much sunshine.
At one time it was bright and brilliant
Now it just cowers in the wind and tries not to die.
The leaves were once drenched in color
The stem was once erect and strong as tempered titanium
The morning dew is the tears it cries
I saw the rose. It never raised its weary head
The moon never says good night.
The stars deny their twinkle to its petals
I saw the withering rose and wondered
Wondered why it never asked for water.
It wasn’t on purpose. If I had known that it would ruin her day I wouldn’t have asked. It was just a casual question, just harmless banter. It had been a long, tiring day and this break from the office grind was just what I needed. The clock on the wall of the sandwich shop was ticking at a snail’s pace and the expresso machine was buzzing from the rush of water whizzing through its insides. She was sipping absentmindedly on a cup of coffee as the steam tickled her nose and made her face wrinkle. I turned from the counter and rubbed my eyes as she casually asked me about my weekend. I told her I was going on my usual trip to Egypt and the southern coast of France. She laughed as I asked her was she going to order the steak or the lobster at her Valentines dinner. Her face dropped and there was an uncomfortable pause as she gathered her words and told me Valentine’s Day was a commercially driven enterprise that was only around to make businesses rich. My third eye blinked and I was thinking that sounded like an answer we men give about Valentine’s Day, particularly when we are broke or the woman is really a side piece. I thought she was trying to be funny so I asked her about the weekend plans with her significant other. She tried to laugh and say he didn’t really believe in Valentine’s Day and she was cool because it was just one day and not really important. The friend in me wanted to pursue her obvious emotional distress but the keeper of the man code held up his stop sign so I retreated to a neutral corner. As I grabbed my order, I looked at her solemn face now deep in thought and not as bright as the moment I walked in. I wondered how long she had been making excuses. I wondered how many Valentine’s Days or birthdays or Christmases or anniversaries had gone past without the man in her life really caring that all she wanted was his attention and appreciation. It always amazed me that women could make up so many reasons for a man that didn’t act right, but couldn’t come up with many reasons he should be acting right.
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