road block

i stood on my back porch, smoking my parliament light.
i looked around at the grey sky.
i looked at the brick houses.
i looked at the plant in the icy soil.
just a few weeks ago, the tiny leaves were green.
little white buds adorning the tips.
i looked at the plant again.
now the leaves were dark.
the leaves were burgundy.
the color of cheap wine from the corner store.
and i looked up at the buds that were no longer buds.
but the most delicate little flowers i had ever seen.
the petals a soft, shy shade of lavender.
the centers a pale yellow.
i looked at these flowers so recently blossomed.
i exhaled a flume of light gray smoke.
and i thought to myself,
how can flowers bloom in winter?