Rain Change

Will the garden grow? Will the rivers flow? Will I ever sing? Worry— I gave it up. And took my old body and went to the garden and sang. “I worried”~ by Mary Oliver

i’m caught

in a downpour 

rain stops suddenly 

over ninety’s too hot 

my legs ache 

eyelids puff 

so i try out the Mary Oliver cure: 

And took my old body and went to the garden and sang. 

I walk her poem

down garden rows

gather lettuce and cucumbers

good for a salad

three yellow squash  

easy to steam in the microwave 

they’ll taste good with a little butter, 

a sprinkle of salt 

circle to the thimbleberries

pick a ripe handful

a cup of black sunshine 

for dessert

rain soaked clothes, air dried,

my lament morphs to content 

bright yellow flowers 

glow through the gray

***

To make life sweet

After: “What makes me happy? By Victory Boyd

to make life sweet

add raw honey 

walk on the lawn

lift your face to the sun 

then skip to cool shade 

under the lilac bush

fill up your ears with birdsong 

the loud chirping of cicadas 

the musical ring of chimes 

the soft rustle of trees

raindrops splash in a puddle

watch circles grow

the everyday world 

laps in your mind

sweet as honey

***

Latihan

a tiny body

hovers 

flutters 

hums

from blossom to blossom

up the stem 

of a cardinal flower

in the garden

a bird

stands on air

walks up the stalk

neither wings or feet

touch the plant 

only the flick 

black tongue 

on scarlet

collects honey 

from vessels

hummingbird darts

in and out

flower and bird

gems in sunshine

https://halcyondaysmagazine.blogspot.com/p/2022.html

Date Published: March 24, 2022