nothing that dies
in the winter
returns in the spring.
flowers return (yes),
but they are not
the same flowers
(they are not
your flowers).
they are strange
flowers (carrying
only enough color
to remind me
of the fallen ones
that came before).

your flowers (the
flowers i loved),
the ones you wore
in your hair,
(the ones sunlight
illuminated) have
long turned to dust
(lost) beneath
the winter ground.