John Budan

Anthophile

The amaryllis is cushioned incongruously in a rusty coffee can perched on an antique Shaker table. I barely notice the drab protruding bulb until she mentions that the plant has been observing me for weeks. My awareness peaks and morphs into a strong interest. This evolving life form growing taller becomes embedded in my daily thoughts and dreams. Where did this marvelous, perfect wonder come from? It certainly has emotions, intelligence, and purpose.  Each morning, I kiss her lightly on her gorgeous green stem and tell her how much I admire her. My wife asks, “How is your girlfriend today?”    Reaching a height of three feet her blossoms burst with a dazzling spectrum of orange enclosed by a star-shaped interior.

segments of our life
like drifting petals
caught in wind
I hold my wife
tightly

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About the Author

John Budan has published widely. He lived in France where he found his alter ego Guignol in Paris at the Jardin du Luxembourg.