After the wedding

A single orchid –
its safety-pin detached – lay in tears
on the town registry steps,

those cold, stone steps
steeped in artificial light, an orchid
and its fresh, bewildered tears.

I had never seen a flower’s tears,
and saw no guests, their hurried steps
had passed the orchid

and the orchid’s tears, two polished opals on the littered steps.

(Reference: Vladimir Tretchikoff's "Lost Orchid")