A Small Forgetmenot Poem by Herbert Nehrlich

I'd managed to traverse
the river of indifference,
and climbed the muddy banks
until I stood beneath the canopy
of trees whose majesty surprised,
they swayed in synchrony
and nodded at each turn,
as if to say we shall stand guard for thee.

There was a purpose to the nods,
directing me to look beyond the shade
my eyes went heavy and all time stood still.

A rose of an exotic colour, all alone,
surrounded by a thousand healthy weeds,
oh wonders of this world, they never cease!
She beckoned me to step up close,
smiled like an angel when I touched her stem,
'you may, dear wanderer, caress my face as well, '
I did, and there was velvet bliss forever seemingly,
I could not leave again, there was no other world.

I settled next to her, though careful not to crush
her precious parts or any weeds in residence.
The sun came out in all its beauty after dawn,
and there was peace, with birds and butterflies nearby,
majestic trees stood guard and lent their cooling shade
and on occasion I would think and ask, 'but why'?

There was a storm, it seemed so meaningless and odd,
though I had noticed the clear absence of the nod,
wild flashes struck and surged to earth between the trees
and lightning's fury forced me down onto my knees.

'You may not live', so said the rose, 'it's in your heart',
and she was right, I felt the dagger's cruel blade
a small forgetmenot, its deep blue leaves apart
cried a small tear and life resumed there, in the shade.