New poem by Mary Nielsen

"Receipt for a Scarlet Begonia"

found on the ground today

a receipt for a scarlet begonia

a phrase that has a poetic ring to it and

I really must look into iambic pentameter

and other patterns of human psyche

which we share a common thread of thankfulness

or thanklessness as they are two sides of the same coin

a begonia is a waxy flower of a genus species

often given as a gift for those so inclined to purchase something

for a sick relative who is not so close

and for whom one would not go out on a limb for

whose thoughtfulness or thoughtlessness we carry as banners

of our fancy notions with either wistfulness or sadness

emanating from the montage of our sincerity