Tulips

Every colour of the rainbow
           and the fact that they will fade
is unimportant
           their beauty depends
on so many factors
           the light and the soil
in which they grew
           the evolution of their genes
how a single flower
           developed into so many
singular species
           and how we evolved
to admire them
           and to value their beauty
their long tongue-like leaves
           the slender stems
upon which a chalice
           of bright petals
is raised in a toast
           to creation

John Lyons