Poppy

My poppy didn’t last

long.

Maybe it was old.

It looked fresh,

survived the trip

home in my pocket,

to its watered jar.

It shut its eyes

and closed up

the first night.

Next morning

it was still

alive!  But half

closed.

Throughout

the day it

opened

widely, spreading

its orange tentacles

in every possible

direction.

The second day

it fell apart

-petal by petal.

I was glad I

had it for a day.

Photograph © Dennis Frates Photography  http://www.fratesphoto.com/

California poppies. Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve. California