Roses were the first
to arrive
and they held
their blush
high and hopeful
until the nurse
pushed them aside
finding room
for daisies, daffodils,
and lupines
till the darkest corners
filled with scents
and sniffles
intermingled
in prayer
yet she drifted
too far away
to smell
or hear
and later
when the room darkened
and our shuffling feet
found what path
they could
we took only
the flowers
with us.