The bud stands for all things, even for those things that don’t flower,
for everything flowers, from within, of self-blessing;
though sometimes it is necessary to reteach a thing its loveliness,
. . . and retell it in words and in touch it is lovely
until it flowers again from within, of self-blessing . . .
—from “Saint Francis and the Sow” by Galway Kinnell
Wishing a very Happy Birthday to my first true love—Lillia Nora.
Now you are fourteen.