ISABEL MANEY
A Response to Daffodils in Mexico City
“ ¿Unas flores, señorita?” the flower vendor asked. He picked up another bunch. "¿Violetas?" he inquired. "¿Astromelias?" He took them out so that I could see the drooping pink petals. "Narcisos," he finally said. I felt the name with a pang but could not recall its English translation until he held up the yellow bouquet. Fair Daffodils. With delight, I paid for the flowers thinking of Robert Herrick. Herrick was an English poet who once wrote, "Fair Daffodils, we weep to see / You haste away so soon."
December 9, 2022