Skip to main content
Poetry Foundation Homepage
Poetry magazine
June 2026Subscribe
Subscribe
June 2026Poetry May2026 cover RGB
Poetry Foundation Homepage
Poetry Foundation Homepage
Poetry Foundation
Poetry magazine
June 2026Subscribe
Subscribe
June 2026Poetry May2026 cover RGB
Poetry Foundation

Flowers

By Wendy Videlock
for my mother
They are fleeting.
They are fragile.
They require

little water.
They’ll surprise you.
They’ll remind you

that they aren’t
and they are you.

Source: Poetry (February 2012)
p1
This Poem Appears In
POETRY Magazine cover of February 2012 issue, featuring illustration "PegaPoe-asus" by Felix Sockwell
Read Issue
Subscribe to Poetry
POETRY Magazine cover of February 2012 issue, featuring illustration "PegaPoe-asus" by Felix Sockwell
This Poem Appears In
View Issue
Poem categories
Nature
Plants & Fungi
Living
Time & Brevity
Meters
Free Verse
Disappointment
Joy & Contentment
Poet categories
North America
U.S., Northwestern
  • Poems & Poets
    • Collections
    • Poem Guides
    • Poem of the Day
    • Poems
    • All Poems
    • Poets
    • All Poets
  • Topics & Themes
    • Adults
    • Children
    • Education
    • Educators
    • Glossary of Poetic Terms
    • Teens
  • Features
    • About the Magazine
    • Advertise with Poetry

    • Articles
    • Books
    • Podcasts
    • Poetry Magazine

    • Poetry Historical Index

    • Poetry Magazine Archive

    • Submit to Poetry

    • Subscriptions
    • Video
  • Grants & Programs
    • Awards
    • Events
    • All Past Events
    • Past Exhibitions
    • Grants
    • Library
    • Partnerships
    • Programs
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Give
    • Jobs
    • News
    • Our Team
    • Press Releases
    • Reports & Financials
    • Trustees
    • Visit
Poetry Foundation
FacebookInstagram
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Poetry Mobile App
  • 61 West Superior Street,
    Chicago, IL 60654
  • © 2026 Poetry Foundation
See a problem on this page?