A poetic response to "The Sound of the Hollyhocks”

Voices

The sound of the hollyhocks
Still lingering at his ear
“Don’t go with her!”
Was their whisper

“She had you once,” 
“But she can’t have you again!”
“Listen to us,”
“For Sandra’s sake!”

“I know,” he said.
Speaking to the unknown,
Something that I can’t see
“I won’t go—never—never again!”

The man fell on the ground,
Spilling the juice jug
Kicking, running, sobbing
“I gave him a heavy dose.” Said the nurse.

Woke up
Empty bed
Screams
Again ?

Belt around his neck
Purple face
Too late
Gone

Dried and broken
Dead flowers
Their name?
“I forgot.”