Spring comes with the retelling of the same story.

The irises return, overwhelming eyes and nose

with their wonder and memories.

These flowers my namesake

grew abundantly in grandma’s garden

despite the heat and poor soil.

It must have been her sheer will

and speaking to them in a stern voice

that did it.

Years have passed

they still grow and

“An iris offers its beauty and fragrance

as if nothing has changed

as if no one were gone”