The Flower Girl
A story of the death — and life — of a dream
As we head into the new year, some of you are likely standing at a funeral for your dreams. Last year didn’t bring the success or the progress you had hoped. In fact, it brought great loss. You don’t feel like a “new you” just because the clocked ticked past midnight. I have been there. Wow, have I been there.
This story is for you.
The Flower Girl by Holly Pheni
There once was a girl who loved to grow flowers,
She’d sit and she’d sing in her garden for hours.
Her plants grew in beauty, with great love and care,
They brought her such joy that she wanted to share.
So into her wagon went violets and roses,
Forget-me-nots, peonies, lilies, and posies.
The wagon bump-skipped down the dirt road to town,
“We’ll give away smiles and chase away frowns.”
It didn’t take long before someone passed through.
“Would you like some flowers? They’re my gift to you.”
She handed him roses, all bursting with pride,
But to her dismay, he just cast them aside.
“These roses have thorns, and their color is dull.”
And he gave them a stomp, splitting petals from hull.
The girl felt a pang, but she straightened and said,
“Someone else will like them, let’s just move ahead.”
A woman came by, and she asked for some lilies.
“These don’t smell at all!” down they went, willy-nilly.
The little girl cringed as the flowerpot shattered.
The lilies were mush, and her dreams lay there, scattered.
She picked up the pieces so no one would fall,
Then pressed on and said, “I’ll find homes for you all.”
A third passer-by said the mums were a gaff.
Soon more flowers fell to the well-trodden path.
This went on and on, as the girl persevered.
Not one person smiled, not one heart was cheered.
With bitter complaints they all mocked her dear flowers,
And all were thrown down in a matter of hours.
Her treasures lay dead, and her tender heart pained,
She sat in the dirt and her tears fell like rain.
Along came a friend and the friend said, “Take heed –
“Those flowers aren’t wasted — each one has a seed.
“Your tears gave them water, the sun shines above,
“The whole path will bloom like a rainbow of love.”
Given some time, up grew bright second chances,
Soon blooms, bees, butterflies and children had dances.
They renamed the dirt road the “Beautiful Way.”
The seeds made a garden that blooms to this day.
And where are the naysayers? Who now complains?
From the death of a dream came such valuable gains.
What is the lesson in this little tale?
Keep trying, even if it seems like a fail.
Keep giving, although some will cast it aside.
Love always comes back like the deep ocean’s tide.
Some things take time, as the flowers bestowed.
Seeds planted with tears can still bloom down the road.
First published on Vocal Media on my author page.
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