The Mystery of You

                I.
 
An assembly of flowers
opened each morning
looking for you
their smiles blooming
to welcome you home
 
each blossom on cue
each morning a ritual
each petal a prayer.
 
             II.
 
Hope-filled faces wilting
in the Texas summer
Each night another flower
disassembles
petal by petal.
 
Each morning a diminished
congregation rises
for the ritual
 
Each prayer
another syllable
missing