Marigold is the sun’s bride,
the guardian of goodness
at the garden’s gate.
Rose without Thorns
Beloved maiden of the garden
peony heals sorrow with her beauty.
Astilbe
The red spire rises.
Nature’s Olympic flame of summer
will burn bright for the duration.
God’s Eye
In every blossom
the divine is looking back at you.
Lupin
A meeting of friends in the meadow.
Quaker Bonnets gather
offering their quiet beauty to the whole of the land.
Field of Dreams
Dreams take shape slowly
emerging from soft surroundings
an impression forms, staking claim on hope.
Fleur-de-lis
Noble in color, royal in birthright
Iris is the garden’s rainbow goddess.
Traveler’s Joy
Darling of the door yard garden
clematis climbs up and along the picket fence;
most brilliant and ingenious buttercup.
Hillside
The slope demands effort
while promising a summit view.
Mygolomorph
Tarantula of tree roots
dips its many wooden legs into the river
and awaits its kayak prey.
In Place
An open stretch of sky, grass as soft as velvet
the wandering Connecticut River within reach;
all is well, God is near.
Change
The thunderhead rolls in
soon to darken the blue sky with rain
and throw lightening bolts like Zeus.
Field of Astor
Lavender and yellow delights
gather in the meadow
Woodstock for wildflowers.
Chieftan Trees
The sweetest of woods
pine’s scent releases burdens from heads and hearts
and so they are known as the Keepers of Peace.
Honeysuckle
Heavenly scented, heady hedgerow
offering frilly goblets to hummingbirds.
Calm
Midday by the river just the barest of breezes blows
and the only sound is of bees and dragonflies at work.
Wild Purple
Both leaf and petal wear purple proudly
borrowing from violet, lilac and mulberry.
Watchfulness
From the sanctuary of the woods animals watch
the metal bridge that carries man and his many parcels and purpose
to the other side and back again.
Ready Field
Tilled earth soaks up the sun
and waits for the seeds
of this season’s purpose to be planted.
Looking Up
Beneath a canopy of green
lie down on the soft welcoming earth
and claim your special place in the world
by being there.
Biggest Star
Brightest orb shining the way
through spring and into summer days,
lighting the route through woods and dark days.
Country Nine Patch
The land is quilted with care
by leathered hands guiding the blades of the big red tractor.
An old wood fence ties this patch to the next.
Lilac
Prodigy of spring
sweetly scents
the warming days
Refinement
Brilliant red
butterfly wings
dancing in the breeze.
Overlooking
The water glitters and shouts as it rushes on
carrying memories of perfection from the freshness of youth.
Age tempers today’s perfection with the acceptance of impermanence
making the glitter more brilliant and the shouting more joyful.
Big Rock
Sit on the big rock
in the sunshine by the river.
Let the water wash your worries away.
Let the birds sing the song in your heart.
Magic in the Mist
Beneath the shroud of early morning mist
all creatures and growing things pause
and give thanks for the coming day.
Opportunity
Delve deep
into the pink
fleeting perfection.
Friends
Johnny jumps up
to greet me in the morning
pledging to forget me not.
Dew
Dew drops balance
on the tips of grass blades
until it is time to wed the earth.