They had them out today in pots
(van Gogh's irises) the gray sky buckling
over umbrellas and women hurried
by in the spat rain, none stopping
to the flowers.
I stayed and watched
and the pots stood in the rain
while the yellow lights came on
and shone around them. Seeing
them there in the dark air like
some kind of forgotten flags
brought me as low
as though it were my own loss.