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WILD FLOWERS

He was returning from a scout
on a close late summer day
most of which had near run out
as the heat to cool gave way.

Turning into his long rutted drive
in his old pitted pick up truck
he wondered how long it would survive;
a few more years with any luck.

The bumpy way alerted him
to look around upon the world
with aged eyes though far from dim.
He saw late wild flowers had unfurled.

So he stopped....and took the riot in
of colors: yellow, blue, red and white
and on a whim decided then
to gather some flowers so bright.

Knowing wild flowers are quick to wilt
he looked for a vessel to fill up
with canteen water without silt.
He saw naught but a McDonald's cup.

So he filled it and stepped into tall grass
took out his Old Timer pocket knife
and began cutting flowers he'd pass,
a bouquet with which he'd surprise his wife.

Here were crimson clover blooms blood red.
Here were frost flowers white and blue.
Here were golden rod as in a bed
and flowers whose names he never knew.

Till soon the cup would hold no more
so he got back in his tired truck
carefully bracing the cup on dirty floor
dusty from months of dried up red muck.

He turned the key to complete his trip
and bounced the last one tenth a mile
attentive the "vase" didn't tip
unaware he wore a tiny smile.

He pulled into his parking space
got out and gently closed the door
spied then added a single Queen Anne's lace
to the arrangement on the floor.

Up the steps on creaky knees.
There sat the loved he had gathered these for
(he hoped the weeds don't make her sneeze)
a thought he should have had before.

He produced the flowers from behind his back
just as her eyes left the romance book
and a smile began with a slight crack
Then built into a loving look.

Style / type: 
Structured: Western
Review Request (Intensity): 
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Editing stage: 
Content level: 
Not Explicit Content

Comments

.please stan read my SOS below thanks

going around begging for comments is not a good look for you or anybody

author comment

poetic friends
stan

My hurting your feelings was unintentional. And I'm fully aware you have been writing about 4 times as long as I have. But I thought you would want the truth from me as to how your deleted comment looked. Perhaps your skin is thinning out a bit ? lol

author comment

1] Where are the eyes after 'aging'?

2] [And then decided] [on a whim] instead of the other way around?

3] [His] day trip?

In a hurry to post it for your lover? Proof-reading is a good thing! Never time wasted.

~ Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

Believe it or not I actually Did proof read this. But too often I see what I intend instead of what's there. But luckily I have editors (like you) to help me out. I'll get those typos taken care of soon

author comment

I am always glad to help out. Your work is always interesting to me; because, I see the everyday man who loves his wife, remembers the past and is unsure of the future. You write as though you are still standing in the place you wrote about. As to seeing what you intended, [no matter what it says], That happens to me all the time, I have to go back and rerwrite some things right after I post them, because I didn't see it, until it was [in print]? LoL ~Geez.
.

There is value to commenting and critique, tell us how you feel about our work.
This must be the place, 'cause there ain't no place like this place anywhere near this place.

Yeah, old see and say me lol

author comment

I find this a little DULL.

as long as it's just a Little dull I guess I can get by. I appreciate your honesty in how you found this. Maybe later I can write something wort reading

author comment

I shall look forward to that.

BUT I will be gone like the summers breeze If you don't help me from the cold freeze
They must send ADVICE to my Lovedly email id
all others are lost
I sent a message to Paul.
This laps top is deadly drunk kindly look into it like you did last time
Else good bye to all Neopoets I loved
Thanks Stan sorry for this scribble here
If later all is well I will score this off with my usual Bows

oldest PAL left
now I'm @82 little time left with you
unrest
Rgds to Susan ma'am

Your PMs are all gone? Have you contacted Paul about your troubles? HE is the tech wizard here not me. If you are unable to message him then let me know and I'll pass your troubles on to him.

author comment

PASS WORDS GONE OLD EMAILS ID VANISHED
SOS STAN PLEASE SPEAK WITH HIM

THIS ORIGINAL HAS BEEN DONE HERE BY A TECHY PAL NEXT TIME IT MAY NOT APPEAR AGAIN
FIRE FOX VANISHED
SO I MAY NOT GET in touch at all oh I see Sorry for the caps eyes half blind u know

thanks

I expect he will be able to resolve the problem

author comment

stan ur a grandest man
let me see somehow got this via fire fox which is normally off rgds

over 11 years ago. To ere is human to really screw up requires computers lol

author comment

thanks
Pauls message came here
I gave him more information
pl sos again in a day or two
thanks stan

to help when I can

author comment

Hi, Stan,
"...unaware he wore a tiny smile." This is such a tender, sincere poem / love letter. I believe you've been married a while? Romantic reflections like this are probably the reason why.
The best!
L

Our 49th anniversary will be Aug 3rd this year. We dated exclusively for 3 years prior so she's the only one who has put up with me lol.

author comment

Sign thanks for sharing this masterpiece of your love. True love isn't just grand gestures, that sort of love glows even in token gifts. Which to me are the real grand gestures. To find time in your day to stop and pick wildflowers and present them to loved. Sigh I'd be happy with a daisy. Even a father Christmas as we call them. Which is a beautiful weed.

Sigh Sigh Sigh. This is magnificent.

Love Always Sis xox

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” — W.B. Yeats

I am always surprised when a minor edit brings people to read older poems. The REAL grand gesture has been Her putting up with Me.....

author comment
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