last few days in May
early light looks towards
summer
Colors and Years
The view outside is green. I think of Listen To The Green, Luci Shaw’s first poetry book, which was published in 1971 (Harold Shaw Publishers; Wheaton, Illinois). And I mentioned her new book, Angels Everywhere: Poems (2022, Paraclete Press), in a recent post. Her books by my chair: 1971, 2022, and many books over the years. Wonderful creative work. Please see Luci Shaw The Official Website if you would like more information. She also is a photographer, and there is a Photo Gallery.
Books and art are good friends through all the changes life can bring.
Karl and I began here in December 2009, and I am grateful for blogs. One post, one day at a time. I also have bought books by authors I know from our blogs.
Colors and years: the daylily plants fill a garden. Lots of green now, and their flowers here are orange in July. Daffodils and primroses bloom now. Many wildflowers have found a home here – and bees, butterflies, birds.
forsythia by the garage
forsythia by the garage
bright petals and beauty
for all to see along the road
yesterday pink flowers
by the kitchen windows
and the first bee
of the year I see

Revision
The bushes Karl pruned some time ago are growing so well. The forsythia by the driveway still flowers, and receives more light than the forsythia by the garage and cedar fence. Both beautiful. I think about writing poetry, and how often when I revise, the poem is shorter. And sometimes a poem grows longer. A haiku may become a tanka.
When I review my archives, I may also remember the inspiration for a poem, and can see how I could write the poem now. An older poem can become a new poem. At the same time, an earlier poem may seem less “perfect” – yet true to the time when I wrote the poem. Always room to grow.
Birch Tree Seasons
how many mornings
have I read and looked
at birch trees in sun
and blue sky?
and yet today
is the most beautiful
new leaves
on the birch tree
and on the branch
with no leaves
a robin
blue sky and trees
on the birch tree branch
blue jay