A Letter 

suddenly spring is over

summer has begun

clouds pass over without dropping rain

there's talk of putting out hoses 

for blueberries  raspberries   peas   cardoons

there’s a good growing moon

soon acanthus will flower

those fruits that have set will go on

to greater glory as apples

plums

for rhubarb

there’ll be a second picking

the sorrel is past its best

fresh lettuce is on the way

already crows are inspecting trees

last year they stripped our cherries

we’ve sent off for nets

today we weeded wood hyacinths

hoping to hinder procreation

next will be horse tails 

a constant battle

they compete with strawberries

usually by far our biggest crop

we still have some from last year 

now columbines stand tall

copyright © Dick Russell

              2018