the boy ran like the wind
without a care
with no direction or thought
he ran through the tall grass
the burrs stuck to his legs
and he itched
but still he ran

the flower stood up
straight and tall and shining
her petals opened wide
to catch the sun
she was waiting for him
with hope in her heart

the boy stopped running
he stopped and he looked
at the beauty and the wonder
of the flower before him
he stopped running
and he stayed with her
in the tall grass

she sang to him sweet melodies
that filled his heart with joy
she spoke to him
of her inner secrets
and showed him all her hidden treasures

he poured water over her
to cool her in the heat of the day
and he comforted her by night
together the boy and the flower
loved each other
they were happy

the boy gathered sticks and stones
to build a castle for his flower
he built it tall and wide and strong
he filled it with the treasure of the forest
and all the world marvelled at his creation
he stood and looked at his gift
for his precious love
his dearest heart

and as he turned around to show her
there she lay beneath his feet
crumpled and trodden and broken
she had cried out to him
as he built his castle
but he did not hear
she screamed at him her warning
but his ears were closed

now she lay there broken
her petals scattered in the wind
her tall slender stem ruined
her light had gone out
and the boy wailed
and the boy wept
and the boy tore out his eyes
that he may never look upon
such beauty again

there is a clearing in the grass now
no flower grows there anymore
and some say an old man
visits in the night
and sits under the stars
blind and broken
he waits for her
in vain