Cope

Wendy Cope - Flowers

About the poet

Wendy Cope is a talented poet. Her first book, published in the late eighties, had the great title 'Making Cocoa for Kingsley Amis'. This poem comes from her second book, 'Serious Concerns'. Although her poems appear humorous, there is often a deeper truth. This particular example was first shown to me by a friend at University, who was relating to me the problems she was having with her boyfriend of the time (not me!). This poem sort of summed up how she felt about him.

Flowers

Some men never think of it.
You did. You'd come along
And say you'd nearly brought me flowers
But something had gone wrong.

The shop was closed. Or you had doubts -
The sort that minds like ours
Dream up incessantly.
You thought I might not want your flowers.

It made me smile and hug you then.
Now I can only smile.
But, look, the flowers you nearly brought
Have lasted all this while.