the grocery store orchid
instructions
say
to water with a weekly cube of ice
no
think of the orchid
perched high in the rain forest
on the branch of a tree
in the canopy
an ice cube
seems cruel
once a week
I take each orchid
and place it in a glass container
and pour water soaking
like the rains
inundating warm water
and let it soak a little
lift the orchid out to drain
and promise it the rain will come
again next week
sometimes
the orchids bloom and bloom and bloom
for months
promise them the rain will come
again next week