Everlastings (September)

On cold concrete a nursery pot plant of black plastic, complete with label, takes more rain. Measured black potting soils soak into mud. Sunlight rarely reaches this outpost of the garden, though occasional warmth returns to the air in September. Paper flowers, dropped here six months ago, when sellers were certain of a sale: two sturdy blooms on show. Only green stalks again against cold rain, but signs of new heads emerge, green-plated. In their natural environment they spread wild, holding cliff soil together. Later they’ll hang bundled at a laundry window, or get pressed in a book no-one reads.