Let the Other Guys Buy You Flowers

Let the other guys buy you flowers
from the grocery store across the street
the time they realized they were out of chili powder
and decided to make a quick run before dinner

Let them search through the floral display
next to the table of day-old bread that is now on sale
picking through the slightly limp gerberas
dying slowly beneath the harsh fluorescence of aisle three

Let them take home the ones with the most blooms
in the color that they think is your favorite
shaking off the stagnant water they've been sitting in
careful not to get any on their expensive new dress pants

Let them present them to you in an awkward flourish
from behind their backs like an aging Atlantic City magician
while you try not to cast your eyes at the price sticker
they forgot to remove in their hope and lust-filled excitement

Let them try their best to impress you
with their recently-Googled botanical knowledge
about the best way to keep them so they'll stay pretty for weeks
it turns out a little dash of Sprite will do the trick

I'll be happy just to give you a friendly smile
when you walk by my little office each morning
watching you push the vase farther and farther to the edge of your desk
as the day's faxes and paperwork slowly begin to pile up





Poetry by Rapscallion
Read 519 times
Written on 2009-04-10 at 06:04

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Brian Oarr
I've been waiting for you to uncork a well written poem ... here it is! Could perhaps use a dash of metaphor, but still a very nice piece.
2009-04-10