Cryptic: Puzzling, Obscure
Balmy: Temperate, Soothing
Quarry: Prey, Target
Retribution: Punishment, Revenge
Coveted: Desirable, Longed For
As Morrie's body deteriorates, so does the condition of the hibiscus plant. The plant's pink petals wither and fall as Morrie grows increasingly dependent on his aides and on oxygen. As his death approaches, so does the death of the plant. It is continually used as a metaphor for Morrie's life and for life itself.
The poem is about a series of pictures and it is describing the pictures and all the details they entail.
