The Bird and Baby

I searched for you a thousand days,
But could not ask for help.
I saved all my affections yet,
Had kept none for myself.

I promised to be ready when,
You walked back through the door.
I labored day and darkest night,
And still I wound up poor.

I woke up to the flower,
I’ve kept watered by my bed.
Drowned by great attention,
It’s pedals dried up, dead.

-Taylor Glenn Pritchard