Brave souls of impoverished soil
potent charms
who bring ecstatic dreams
Greens
In the door yard garden
pick yourself a salad
taste summer.
Magic Wands
Fairy dust is gathered on magic wands
and used to clean away all ugliness
of sight, word and deed.
The Circle
As the first bloom fades
the next opens to its glory.
Freckles
Splendid is the smattering
of red upon pink petals
freckle faced lily
enchanting girl of the garden
Nasturtium
Trojan warrior of the flower pot
with shield leaves and blossom helmet.
Slayer of slugs, pepper is your arsenal.
Affiance
Betrothed to each other and the earth
fairies place their wedding rings
on flower pillows side by side
during the nuptials.
Milkweed
Mother to monarchs
nurturer and protector
shepherd of beauty.
Adornment
Bejeweled with fungi
the old tree wears
her forest finery.
Lilly
Raspberry colored beauties
undeterred by the weather
wear raindrops like diamonds.
Spiral
A spiral staircase from the forest floor
like an Escher leading everywhere and nowhere
all at once.
Red Flowers on Rock
On the Fourth of July
the garden celebrates in colors
with fireworks of blooms.
Scarecrow
The cheerful scarecrow
encourages reluctant corn.
Pinwheel
When the right breeze blows
seeds will travel to their new homes.
A grand design determines time and place.
Forest Fireworks
Each new limb begins as a sparkler in green.
The pine celebrates its own independence day.
White Flame
Amidst all the green
a single white flame flickers
lighting the path.
Buttercup
Shinning yellow
beacon of summer
buttercup is a kiss from the sun
Herringbone
A harmony of light and dark,
the forest floor wears herringbone.
Lady Slippers
These are the magic shoes that fairies wear
to the Pine Needle Ball each summer solstice.
The Artist
Indian Paintbrush colors the meadow
with embers of sunset.
Knowing
This is the deer who knows my soul
and seeks me out to remind me
of the gentleness of wildlife.
Commonplace Alchemy
A single stem
an ordinary weed
the exquisite process of living.
Moth Magic
Fuzzy lemon drop
wings kissed by lavender
one pink leg steps forward
Auspiciousness
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.
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.
Mygolomorph
Tarantula of tree roots
dips its many wooden legs into the river
and awaits its kayak prey.