VERONICA

THOUGH NEW AND ABSENTEE OWNERS HAVE TAKEN DOWN THIS ARBOR AND HAVE SAVAGED ALL THE GARDENS THAT SURROUNDED US IN PRAYER
CUTTING DOWN THE SHRUBS AND STOMPING ALL THE FLOWERS THERE
THEY CANNOT ERASE THE BEAUTY OR THE MEMORIES OF WHAT ONCE WAS 

AND AS I RAKE THE LEAVES OF AUTUMN UP HERE IN THE NORTH
I THINK OF HAPPY TIMES THERE IN THE GARDEN STATE
OF FRIENDS THAT WE HAVE KNOWN AND FLOWERS I HAD GROWN
AND OF ALL THAT I RECALL THERE WAS NONE MORE DELICATE THAN OUR FAIR AND FRAGILE FAITHFUL FLOWER NAMED VERONICA