Flowers

tiger lilies bloom-
last year’s fallen leaves begin
dancing with the wind
–
crocus blooms –
a young robin
in my birdbath

late afternoon sun-
snow fades to grass as winter
draws to a close
–
red feathers-
in the snow
a purple crocus

twisting in my sleep
I smell the blood and cordite
and lotus flowers
–
torrential rain-
countless lost
to take a hill

late autumn sun-
rising waters crack the ice
from an early freeze
–
a white canvass-
fresh gesso broken by
crocus blossoms

the last day of spring-
apple blossoms ride on the
late afternoon breeze
–
barefoot-
crab apples
in the grass

at the podium
a wool blanket wraps itself
around my tongue
–
summer sun-
snowy cotton
waiting for harvest

the clouds and your eyes-
my head in your lap amid
a field of daisies
–
a dry vase-
tired blooms
bow their heads

out on the lanai
jasmine flowers drift past while
moonlight fills my cup
–
distant mountains-
the heady scent
of pineapple

sitting on the stoop
waiting on a taxi cab-
a soft rain moves in
–
heavy clouds-
dogwood petals
in the grass

a roadside vigil-
flowers for a young man turned
forever nineteen
–
sudden silence-
shell casings
in the grass