I returned home
on Palm Sunday
to find knockout roses
behind my brick mailbox
parading their first blossoms of spring.

I found candytuft
faded to green,
saving scattered sprinkles of white
for me to view one more day.

Fallen pink petals of dogwood trees
fluttered through a whimsical ballet
to entertain me on their ballroom floor
of Kentucky bluegrass.

Dogwoods, azalea, vica
and candytuft are different. Something happened
while I snapped photographs
of starfish captured by the sand
when evening tide
quickly rolled out to sea.

You’ve changed.
Blossoms opened
as other petals faded and fell.
Fresh blossoms flowered
and youthful buds now greet the sun.

Did you care that I'd gone
in the midst of your glory
to savor other beauties

different joys

Do you even miss me?