A Letter from Virgil

suddenly spring is over   summer has begun

passing clouds don’t drop rain   streams from the hill don’t run 

when conversation stops   there's thoughts of long hoses 

for blueberries  raspberries   sugar snaps   cardoons

there’s a good growing moon   iris scents and large roses

columbines have come on now hyacinths are gone 

this year good peonies after much needed rain

battered early blossoms   there’s fresh cut bamboo still green

long stalks for fast climbing pea vines vibrant purple 

climbing tripods of tall slender bamboo

silhouetted against red sky above darkness

like Indian tepee poles   once on the prairie

soon acanthus spears will unfurl crowns of flowers

on orchard trees those fruits that set will soon be culled

by crows taking cherries by farmers thinning crops

for rhubarb a second picking   sorrel has bolted

fresh lettuce is on the way and beans will soon be planted

is this time of year timely for a short visit?

copyright © Dick Russell

              2018