Sweet Surprise

I got to make three whole flower arrangements

with the bunch that Bansho left.

A sweet surprise.

There was one fragrant yellow freesia,

a big pink Gerbera daisy

some giant yellow lilies

and strong smelling eucalyptus leaves like little fans.

But the best part was the pink plum branches, budding all over.

They reminded me of my first ikebana class.

On a gray night in late February

in a fluorescent-lighted

community college classroom

with big white tables.

Ms. Hideko brought in a big white bucket full of plum branches.

I actually didn’t know what they were.

I had never examined the buds up close before they bloomed.

So I thought, “What are those cranberry-looking things?”

I made my arrangement, took it home, and thought it was lovely.

Then, to my delight, it bloomed the next day.

Also there was a rose