Sunday, June 30, 2013

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!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

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.



Friday, June 28, 2013

Summer Soup

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




Thursday, June 27, 2013

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.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

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


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

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. 

Monday, June 24, 2013

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.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

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.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

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!

Friday, June 21, 2013

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.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

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.




Wednesday, June 19, 2013

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.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Wildflowers

first day 
in 
ballet class
dance school 
for 
little ones
tip and twirl 
in
tights and tutus.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Rosebud

Purple rosebud
Ready to uncurl
Unfurl to the summer
Afternoon heat,
Poised to greet
An evening rain.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

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.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

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.

Friday, June 14, 2013

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?

Thursday, June 13, 2013

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.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

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."

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

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."

Monday, June 10, 2013

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.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

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.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Hibiscus

Flamenco dancers
Swirl, swish, sway
Red skirts flying
To the Spanish 
Drumbeat, guitar
Heels click a rhythm
To the music 
Of summer heat.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Rose


True beauty
Is not external
True beauty is pure 
Internal, yet 
It shows—glows 
From within
Clear through to
Outside.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

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.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

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.

Monday, June 3, 2013

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. 

Sunday, June 2, 2013

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.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

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.