Reckless

Purple tulips sprawl
out of the vase
colour fading each day,
will this year’s winter snow
outlast them?

Children you love can close
tight as a bud sculpted on stone
while purple tulips
open their centers
beyond black-pistil limits,
make me wonder what is the point of dying
or wanting to get beyond this life?

My daughter is sprawling out of
herself, cut off at her roots,
flying head-long into spring
and walls
furious, wanting
everything now –
uncaring that her petals will fall.