Author Information
"Victor"
by Jeph Johnson
one day I decided
I was going to
surprise her
with flowers
-
so naturally
I asked:
"What kind
of flowers
do you like?"
-
she replied:
"the kind
that don't die"
-
so now I knew what kind,
but the surprise was ruined
-
the next time I saw her
she gave me
a China Doll plant
with green leaves
and no flowers
-
together we set it
by my window
-
"it doesn't need much water,
once a week, tops.
-
oh, don't do that...
you're going to drown it!
I already watered it today,
you won't need to
until
at least
next Friday.
-
oh, don't do that...
once a week, tops"
-
over time
it began to stretch
and yawn like her cat
while searching
for elusive drops of sunlight
that we figured someday
might come out
and make it thirsty
-
then she left.
citing my immaturity
-
"oh, don't do that..."
-
...and it became
my job to care for it
so I watered it some more
-
"you're going to drown it!"
-
I mean
what else am I to do
with a plant-
talk to it?
-
inspired by my new maturation
I named it "Victor"
after the dead actor
Victor Mature
who starred in
the movie China Doll
-
I am determined
to not let him die
-
I look past the clouds
and hope for daylight
to dry the puddles
-
I whisper
everyday
(sometimes
twice a day)
to Victor
to remind myself
"crying isn't always
a sign of immaturity"
-
but looking down
my teardops
spill into his soil
and his leaves
keep wilting
