Grief Shared

My lover sends me
flowers on Valentine’s
two bundles bright
flaming red tulips
always the same
one for me
one for you
two bundles, two vases
yours and mine
shared between us
better to give than receive
you always said
two bundles, one vase
too many
flaming red tulips
staring at me
too many in my vase.

What day is it tomorrow?  It’s Valentines, Mom!
Your father always sent me a Valentine in the mail.
Once a really big one. Afterwards it just fit into my card box. 
He wasn’t very good at expressing his thoughts, but tried to
in the Valentine cards.  They found him in the parking lot
of the shopping centre.  They said it [...]