The smell of sharp mint from delicate plants,

the tiny roly polies crawling on the cement, and

the worry-free laughter of children as they play

are all lost to the girl with a heavy heart.

The smell of dirty dishes in the sink,

the ants scavenging on the unswept floor,

and the sound of sad music as it plays

are all the girl with the lost heart has now.

She wants it all back now as she

listens to the children play as she walks past,

watches the roly polies from atop her bike,

and smells the tiny mint plants planted in the yard.

What was lost can’t be regained,

and the girl doesn’t deny this, but

she picked the tiny mint leaves anyway

in hopes that the sweet mint tea will taste the same.