Floral district
I saw forgotten
blushing petals
blown away, outside,
upon the graffiti-
tagged storeroom’s
walls & walkways
on West 28th Street,
hours after closing time.
I wish I was there
when the flower shops
were open in the
early morning,
when their perfume
drifted outside &
freshly danced with
the passersby,
coaxing & smiling:
“Come in!
See all this beauty
in the flesh”—
& I would
be tempted to stay
in their
miniature
gardens
for a while,
as a curious
but knowing
Eve or Persephone,
Perhaps
they would say
I was as
beautiful
as their
blooms?