In our well-manicured yard
where a clover can’t show its face
or risk dire consequences, a row
of sunflowers sprang up by the bird
feeder, claiming the kitchen
window for their own. Such thick
stalks and heavy flowers belong
in children’s stories, where
gardens bloom in shapes
and colors seldom imagined
and mushrooms grow as big
as houses. With great dark eyes
surrounded by yellow lashes,
they follow the sun on its daily
journey — a bevy of bold young
girls in love with the same boy.
Dazzling beauties all, showing
up our prim blades of grass
and trimmed bushes like hula
dancers in a room full of pilgrims.
Copyright 2009. Terri Kirby Erickson. All rights reserved.