Most Beautiful Flower

Most Beautiful Flower

The park bench was deserted
as I sat down to read

Beneath the long, straggly branches
of an old willow tree

Disillusioned by life
with good reason to frown

For the word was intent
on dragging me down

And if that weren’t enough
to ruin my day,

A young boy out of breath approached me,
all tired of play.

He stood right before me
with his head tilted town
And said with great excitement,
“Look what I found!“

In his hand was a flower
and what a pitiful sight,

With its petals all worn -
not enough rain, or too little light.

Wanting him to take his dead flower
and go off to play,
I faked a small smile
and then shifted away.

But instead of retreating
he sat next to my side

And placed the flower to his nose

And declared with overacted surprise,

“It sure smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too.
That’s why I picked it;
here, it’s for you”

The weed before me was dying or dead.

Not vibrant of colours:
orange, yellow or red.

But I knew I must take it,
or he might never leave.

So I reached for the flower,
and replied, “Just what I need.“

But instead of him placing
the flower in my hand,

He held it mid-air
without reason or plan.

It was then that I noticed
for the very first time

That weed-toting boy could not see:
he was blind.

I heard my voice quiver;
tears shone in the sun

As I thanked him for picking
the very best one.

“You’re welcome“, he smiled,
and then ran off to play,

Unaware of the impact
he’d had on my day.

I sat there and wondered
how he managed to see

A self-pitying woman
beneath an old willow tree.

How did he know of my self-indulged plight?

Perhaps from his heart,
he’d been blessed with true sight.

Through the eyes of a blind child,
at last I could see

The problem was not with the world;
the problem was me.

And for all of those times
I myself have been blind,

I vowed to see the beauty in life

And appreciate every second that’s mine.

And then I held
that wilted flower up to my nose

And breathed in the fragrance
of a beautiful rose

And smiled as I watched that young boy,

Another weed in his hand,

About to change the life
of an unsuspecting old man