Garden Cantata Part III – Crescendo

 What a glorious symphony of color—

 The fiery bee balm and pink cone flowers

are now playing in full form
with the more melodic goose neck
blending and filling in the pauses.

White daisies, and more goose neck

(who knew those gentle flowers

would take over)

carry the tune in the center of the display

just to the right of

the still singing yarrow,yellow and white

 (the red never came through).

The pot of herbs is full—

now offering notes of flavor

to spaghetti sauce

and marinade for chicken.

Somewhere in the middle

of the pink and white and yellow

you might see the red cap of Patch Withers

the busy garden gnome

who doesn’t seem to mind

that he is barely visible.

Anchoring the garden toward the gate

are more cone flowers among some coreopsis

and black eyed Susans—late comers

to the musical, but adding their voice

with a strong showing.

And where is Saint Francis in all this?

He has now released oversight to the players

allowing the music to flow about this head.

Oh yes, not to forget the Nebraska sunflowers.

Along with the asters,

they hold their blooms for the encore

I think they want that attention
all to themselves

at the end of the summer
after the other flowers

have taken their seats till next year.

Nancy Perkins

July 2011