Maggie and the Valentine Roses

"Dear man with eyes of finest wheat, I'm hungry and I have nothing to eat " Said the beggar to the florist who had an armload of floral work to do She showed up every Valentines Day to pick up her free bouquet her sweet smile and soft voice charmed him in a special way "You are relentless Maggie, " he would say with a twinkle in his eye as he handed her a dozen roses with a jovial grin... She would stand at the curb and sell them one by one as they walked by; One February day it was as cold as the Dickens, and no one showed up Scrunching a blanket in a corner she hugged her twelve roses and fell asleep "Wake up pretty Maggie" came the voice of a rose who had seen better days but she slept slept and slept, no Prince Charming to sweep her away the next year arrived no smile at the window no roses for Mag. In all of his life he had never encountered a more beautiful rose such as she, what he didn't know was before she died, she imagined his eyes and entered the heavens, for free. Written by: Vienna Bombardieri