Day Lily

Balancing on slender stems

Seeming to spring from nothing,

Like sunlight stored in green pods 

But, really joy, growing, swelling

Beginning to stir to life,

Can stay penned

Up inside no longer—No

Not another hour,

Not another minute!

Pop! Sunburst!

Tilt-a Whirl

Spinning colorful blur like a

Spinning fairways ride, a

Spinning, whirling, twirling 

Spinning circle of color— pink rose

Spinning to sweeter music than caliope

Spinning in softer places than carnivals

Spinning without glimmer or glitter

Spinning a place in my imagination.

Summer Soup

Sandy Seashore
Scalloped Shells
Splashing Surf
Soaring Seagulls
Simple Sweetness
Songbird Serenades
Sunny-Suckles
Silent Starlight
Sleepy Songs
Summer Simmeries

Gardenia

Waxen petaled gardenia

Scented sweeter than a rose,

You have no fancy colors;

White ivory with touches of cream

Against glossy green leaves,

You are a beauty in your own right.

Red Wing

In a uniform as elegant

As a guard at Buckingham Palace

Black bird stands watch

Over a rice field—stands

Ready waiting for 

An errant insect to pass his 

Fenced boundaries

Sentinel top 

An overgrown fencepost

Door

The door is closed on the past

We cannot enter and see

Who once lived inside this room.

There remains no memory.

Who turned this china knob?
Who opened this inner doorway?

Who dreamed a dream behind this door?

Who wished for a better day?

Who hoped for a future bright inside?

Who painted brickwork gray?

Who left and never again came back?
Who gave up and walked away?

The door is closed on the past

We cannot enter and see

Who once lived inside this room;

That remains a mystery. 

Friendship

Friendship like hydrangea blooms

Well in shady places 

Where a bit of evening sun and morning light

Touch it.

With the right soil its petals are pink,

But time and changing soil 

Shift its color paler or change it to purple

Or sky blue.

Changing soils affect friendship too

But make it no less beautiful—changes only

Like hair dye changes brunettes to redheads

Or blonds, 

Not the person inside 

No less a friend—no less a lovely flower 

Hydrangea, whatever its color

It blooms.

Sanctuary

Blaze of summer light

Heats the Oklahoma pavement,

Haunts the shadows,

Hot—a stack of quilts over the town;

Yet inside the old stone church

Blue and green glass filters the sun

Bathing the room with coolness
Making it a perfect

Sanctuary from sweltering days

Sanctuary cooled with arched ceilings,

Swiveling fans, and colored light, 

Touched with candlelight,
Kissed by God's light

And brightened with snatches of blood red,

Sanctuary from sin and temptations
Sanctuary—joyful place

Bell in the tower sings out.

Aunt Jessica

Every girl needs an aunt to love,

A special gift from God above

To snuggle beside, look up to and trust,

Whisper a secret, giggling's a must.

A sister cannot take this place,

No mother ever fill this space.

An auntie's a blessing, that's for sure;

You'll never quite get over her!

Wild Bouquet

Cone flowers, clover,

Brown-eyed Susans

Bowing dancers on a stage;

Show's not over

In the meadow

Many days the grand revue

Shows on.

Hay in the Pasture

June heat comes to Oklahoma;

The pasture grass is high

Waving spears of seed heads

Kissed by flocks of butterflies.

Sun blinding bright, overhead,

Copper's hawk soars—wings outspread

In sky a baby boy blanket blue.

Clouds like dumplings in a stew.

Tractors cut and rake and roll

Uncovering more green grass to grow

How the cows must view this spread

Dried grass of summer, their winter's bread.

Gardening

Standing on tippy toes

Necks outstretched

Brown-eyed ladies wave

Friendly at passers-by

Yellow straw hats in place

Ready to head to work in

Their flower gardens.

Wildflowers

first day 

in 

ballet class

dance school 
for 

little ones

tip and twirl 

in

tights and tutus.

Rosebud

Purple rosebud

Ready to uncurl

Unfurl to the summer

Afternoon heat,

Poised to greet

An evening rain.

Pasture Paradise

Waist high clover 

In the pasture brims with 

Bumblebees and butterflies

I love the purple Coral Hairstreaks,

The yellow Cloudless Sulphurs,

The Mulberry-wing Skippers,
And Pipevine Swallowtails

In a buzzing, humming, 

Sunfilled butterfly paradise.

Crape Myrtle

Tree lace

Spun by angels 

Overnight? Sip 

The morning's dew

Convert it to nectar

For bees that make

The tree hum,

Hum, hum like

Aunt Anna hums

Crocheting lace.

Dew Drops

Sweet morning dew

That cools and bathes the world

In freshness for the day

Drops like perfume beads

On leaves and petals.

Is that where your colors come from,
Morning flowers?

Daisies

Daisies grow in a shallow ditch

Every summer I find them which

Inspires me.

Their white and yellow cheery faces

In such unkempt and overgrown places 

Inspires me.

Where I'd think they couldn't subsist

Against all odds they grow and persist

Inspires me.

Time for Tea

Sisters love the game of tea

"Come now, Dear. Come sip with me.

Taste these flaky crumpets 

They are simply divine.

Places we have set for more

Listen! Someone's at the door!

Have a honey raisin muffin 

They are simply divine."

Please pour another cup of tea. 

Oh, you must give me this recipe.

These scones are oh so buttery

They are simply divine."

Turtle

There's nothing quite as curious

As a turtle trundling through the grass,

With neck outstretched and toes extended

He hopes that his escape's not ended.

How cute he is. His home's a shell.

"Don't go so fast. Please stay a spell.

We'd like to be close friends to you

And live outside all summer too."

Orange Lily

Little things make 
Me happy: 

Loaf of bread

Bright flowers

Simple melodies
Butterflies

A kind word

Breeze on a hot day

Birdsong 

Crickets chirping

Harmony

Sliced tomatoes

Corn on the cob

Friend returning 
After a journey.

Pink Roses

Sun straight overhead

I shield my eyes

Look for shade

But the roses' scent calls me

I find pink, white, rose

Pinwheels twirling

In children's hands

At a May Day Picnic.

Railing

Worn and weary,

Like me sometimes.

Tired, rough? Yes.

Used up? No!

Still strong underneath

Pale, scratched

Old handrail

Protect, stand guard

Don't be weary in

Your well-doing.

Hibiscus

Flamenco dancers

Swirl, swish, sway

Red skirts flying

To the Spanish 

Drumbeat, guitar

Heels click a rhythm

To the music 

Of summer heat.

Rose

True beauty

Is not external

True beauty is pure 

Internal, yet 
It shows—glows 
From within

Clear through to

Outside.

Bird on fence post

Sing down the sky, Bird

It's your job. Sit

On a fence post. Shout

To the grey clouds

Coax the sun through.

Red and Green on Blue

Wine red blossom 

Melded with green

Perfect blend 

On yellow, blue, and white

Like a painted 

China dinner plate

Glazed and fired 

Touched with gold

Light of morning sun.

Dancer

Pirouette to the wind's song

Wildflower crowned with green

No finer music moves

Than south wind on prairie grasses

Sweet tunes and melodies

Of birdsong and cricket trills

Symphony of life

Ballad of summer, wind song

Twirl and spin on tiptoe. 

Marker

From a quarry 

A slab of rock

Turned and tuned, 

Polished and placed

On a pedestal

Marble gray 

Swirled with black

Statement in time.

Peonies in Blue

Peonies bloom 

When

June comes  

We invite them

Inside to the supper table,

Because a table needs

To serve up

Food for the body

And the soul.