Amaryllis Gift

Orange-r e d
trios of petals
set one
  with
    in
theother
    to
    form
glorious
flaring circle
     emanating bundled stamen in filiform
falling just short of the pistil’s trifid stigma
      one might imagine these all as sliders
    or vivacious trilling notes
sounding from the floral bell

For two years
the Hippeastrum bulbs rested
now and again growing
long strap leaves

The Widow Wyile watered
the gift given to her mother
during her final weeks
in the year of Amaryllis
cut back dead leaves
and waited
wondering
would a flower stalk
rise again?

surprise synchronicity

Then lo
as the days shrunk
again
and pink blossoms emerged
in profusion upon her cacti
Ah ah!
a promising tip presented
in one of the two pots
she tended
it rose
s l o w l y
toward and through
Advent and Christmas time
forming buds
until it came up
to the doorknob
and then
at last
the first of four blooms
trumpeted its arrival
in the second week of January
becoming duet
trio and finally quartet
umbelliform inflorescence
full floral splendour
brightening the month
of vacillating weathers
and daily reiterating
its florigraphic meanings
strength and beauty
grace and confidence
pride and resilience
a resounding round
of visual vigour
in perfect pitch