they stand in glass dishes
with smooth dark stones
not meant for bouquets
as the paperwhites know
not meant to be gathered the way violets are
or gripped tight in the fist the way daisies would be
the narcissus flower stands tall and alone
knows it is beautiful all on its own
strange creatures are we
and much like that flower
arranged as we are in ways roses don’t know
in standing glass houses
feet planted firmly beneath the dark stones
more beautiful together
together
more alone.