February Flowers

Her fine hand rests lightly on the glass,
the candles glow on wood and amber.
The crimson amaryllis cancels snow,
the paperwhites bloom fragile against dark,
the single chords lift gently into melody.
She almost let her love him.

But guarding her bed
is a painting of Echo
pining after Narcissus,
who looks only at his reflection.
How well she knows the blooming plants,
and holds dear their histories.

The paperwhite is a narcissus,
which also lured Persephone to her rape,
and the amaryllis resembles lilies,
which were sacred to Hera,
forever betrayed by Zeus.

EB