May my heart unfold its pink
petals like the first flowering
plum blossoms of the season,

unabashed, unafraid of what
might come to jostle or dislodge.
Let the sparkling hearts

in the center pop up eagerly,
hoping to attract early bees
awakening from winter, ready

to offer pollen to those whose
job it is to transport it
to the next waiting flower.

May my heart always find
purpose and reason to remain
open till the last possible

moment, then, whether
because of rain or wind
or simply because it’s time

to let go, may I do so as
gracefully as a bee twirling
a pirouette, before landing

in an elegant arabesque
after a most useful,
productive life.