After the long winter
I was so anxious about my houseplants
That on the first warm day
I carried them out to the porch
I said to them
Now you will be happy
They looked at me quizzically
It still might freeze at night
The aloe plant said.
Don’t be such a nervous Nellie
I responded
Don’t be such a prickly pessimist.
The jade plant, the big one, laughed
And all the tiny succulents in designer pots
Sighed.
So I left them on the porch
Basking in the sun
That night
The temperature dropped precipitously
I could hear coughs and murmurs from the porch but
I ignored them
In the morning I took a big watering can out
Ready to greet my plants
But every one was black and drooped in death
I’m sorry, I cried
But there was no response.
Oh well I thought
Perhaps I should have waited a few more weeks.
