When she left
he did not break;
his soul was not shattered
and his heart was not in pieces
But that cold, clear Spring
he paid special attention
to the flowerbed she had abandoned

His hands worked tirelessly
to salvage hollowing stocks
and brittle petals
He forgave the thorns that bit;
his torn fingers
patted the damp soil
with parental fondness

When she came back,
he had given those flowers life
They greeted strangers and friends alike
with their vibrant colors
And so when she asked
for him to surrender his heart again
she was given a tulip instead