Orchids in Po Wah Yuen

Orchids in Po Wah Yuen

On my balcony above Yung Shue Wan,
I drink my coffee in the mornings, thinking
always of you.

My orchids are coming into flower,
their long purple stems grow perceptibly each day
into the light, into the future when they will burst
into colour. Looking at them, I think, too,
how fragile they are: I could, with casual cruelty
reach out, and snap their beauty and their future;
or, caring too much for them, in ignorant love
could drown them or blight their leaves with rot
for experts say an orchid thrives best on neglect.

Perhaps our love is like these orchids:
maybe my course with you should be fall silent,
let your love for me thrive or wither as it will:
and simply live in hope that soon
before these orchids blossom, fade and die,
my most precious flower will bloom again
on my balcony, take root here, outshine them all.

11th March 2006