The Most Beautiful Flower

That fateful hour it caught his eye
And filled him with awe as he drew nigh.
Thought the gardener to himself as he paused that day,
"What a beautiful flower along my way.
I'd like to make that flower my own,"
So he dug it up and he took it home.
He planted it in his own garden plot
And gave that flower his most honored spot.
He cultured, nourished and treated with care
That most beautiful flower ever seen any where.

Some would have plucked to put in a vase
Or dried to show off in a glass showcase;
But he let it wither and go to seed.
While many scoffed at the uncaring deed.
But the gardener waited till just the right time
To harvest those seeds. They were "one of a kind."
When spring rolled around, he planted them there
Where he cultivated their mother with loving care.
Now his garden is full of that beautiful flower
Which so caught his eye on that fateful hour.

Jim Marshall February 25, 1981