the grocery store orchid
instructions
say
to water with a weekly cube of ice

no

think of the orchid
perched high in the rain forest
on the branch of a tree
in the canopy

an ice cube

seems cruel

once a week
I take each orchid
and place it in a glass container
and pour water soaking

like the rains

inundating warm water

and let it soak a little

lift the orchid out to drain

and promise it the rain will come

again next week

sometimes
the orchids bloom and bloom and bloom

for months

promise them the rain will come

again next week