She remembers the first time
A boy bought her flowers.
Hydrangeas, blue —
Funny thing, hydrangeas.
Their color can shift between pink or blue
Based on the soil where they grow.
These grew out of sourness, acidity
That turned the petals to ice.
The meanings change as much as the color
Does, and blue can express regret,
beg forgiveness, or even call the recipient frigid
As a subtle slam for turning down a lover.
The flowers followed an apology,
But she’s no longer certain
Who said sorry first.
His hands had roamed while she slept.
She stopped him, and apologized.
He stopped, eventually, and apologized.
She cried after he said good night, and apologized.
The blue hydrangeas had shriveled, withered, died,
And she apologized
For throwing them away.