Peonies

I've loved peonies since I was a small child. 

Their size and fragrance fascinated me, 

but they were always gone to soon, their petals

laying wilted and bereft of color on the ground

while I looked in vain for another bud.

It was a real treat to find these peonies blooming

in the yard of a vacant home.

Would anyone have missed them if I'd picked a few 

for myself? Instead of committing peonicide 

I chose to leave them where they grew.