To entertain or perhaps to distract herself from overwhelming thoughts,

She reads; she reads anything.

She stumbles upon the meanings of flowers

To each a lovely meaning

Some meant beauty, some meant love, some meant power.

For a bittersweet flower has a wonderful truth,

And a bluebell for one's humility.

Though she strives to be as beautiful and delicate as a hibiscus,

She can't until her mind is just as lovely.

She knows she is not a coreopsis

but the sadness of a willow,

She knows she can not have the joy of a bird of paradise;

For she is the sorrow of a purple hyacinth.

She is not but the saddest flowers of all.