Young Peet and the Pansies

“Did you know?”

she grinned,

“That each colour,

has a different flavour?”

“Here,”

Jayce laughed

as she tore

into purple petals

eating some

to prove it was ok.

Savouring

its flavour,

she followed it back

to circumstances

past.

Those herbal times,

learning

medicaments

Willow for headaches,

poppies for pain

Lavender to help you sleep.

Wintergreen!

That was it

Purple pansies

taste like wintergreen.

Winter sun on her back,

she plucked

an orange pansy,

tossed it mouthward,

chewed.

The taste

was briefly

sharply offensive

Before

her palette cried

“health!”

Here!

Jayce thrust

the orange petals

Young Peet

still ginger,

gamely tasting purple

bravely trusting.

Come on mate!

Can’t you taste the wintergreen?

Swallow it

then taste orange.'

“Come on Jayce

It’s a bit outside my comfort zone.

eating flowers.”

Laughing

Jayce watched

the youngling

Tasting life.

"Will we

get sacked

for eating their garden?"

the question came

unbidden.

Young Peet.

still obeying law.

Yeah,

maybe,

Hey,

skip the orange one

Here!

Try the yellow.