The Bud of Life

When you come into the world you are a bud.
Growing and blooming as you age,
You don't really notice that you have started to bloom
until your adolescence.
Your voice might get deeper or your hips wider.
You start to bloom before everyone's  eyes.
Those who don't  notice miss those small changes and
special moments.
Your innocence falls off with every pedal,
Your eyes are open wide to the harsh reality.
The strong winds of life and adversity ruffle your leaves
in the breeze.
With every given day you try to smile,
You try to hold on for a while.
Then, finally... the last pedal has fallen.
You are now fully grown.
In the blink of an eye,
Your life has passed you by.
But you remember just as your pedals were falling you left some seeds behind.
You left seeds that were planted wherever you went.
You gave someone a joke when it was needed,
encouragement when they doubted,
and life when you gave birth to them.
Now they are starting  the same cycle you ended,
They grew in a different soil and into a different flower.
You gave to the world even as a blooming bud and dying flower.