Ethel on June 14th, 2008

i.   This is not a flower

This is spots of color

Petals and leaves

Keeping in themselves

A solid nut of seed

That mated you to one another.

[from a wedding anniversary card dated 7 july 71]

ii.  The smell of flowers is sweet

But that of imagined ones is sweeter

For even sweetness turns purer

When in mind it is distilled.

[from a card dated 19 oct 72]