upon waking one day i find
that her husk has broken
and fallen away

her poppy petals lovely
lurid
against the hairy husks of her kin.

for days she hangs her head;
i am weary, sad, feeling kinship
and guilt.

yesterday her first petal faded
and fell
which seemed to confirm my sadness.

minutes ago
i began to write this poem,
weeping.

as the words began to mark the page
a hunk of faded petals fell.

inside
a bundle of yellow stalks with golden tips
her own sun, shining.