the sunflowers are struggling

I forgot them

left them to the summer solstice

dirt as hard & dry as hot pavement

now they drink greedily

water I should have poured

days ago sluices over roots

they soak it up

tall aging ladies

guzzling bubbly from pink wineglasses

picking over cheese & crackers

talking of oak and tannin

the sunflowers are silent

their wilted leaves hang

the spaces between leaf and stem

empty

thirsty

waiting