Bee Balm

 While buzzing, busy bees are 

off nuzzling pollen from other 

flowers in this Prairie garden,

these flowers are reaching, 

ready to welcome them 

when it’s time, while looking 

stunning in the afternoon sun.

“The bees are summer-busy every sunny afternoon...”

~ Hal Borland, author, journalist, naturalist

(1900 - 1978)

An Old White Fan

An old white fan sits 

swinging back and forth 

to cool the room. 

I do have a.c. but 

love my little fan that 

merely stirs the air 

stagnant and stuffy with 

summer heat. Its soft shush 

as its breeze drifts across 

the room is comforting. 

How can something so simple 

be so comforting? 

It is one of those sounds 

that has the same softness 

as homemade bread, 

a quilt made by a friend 

or a tea kettle on the boil.

It’s just an old white fan. 

“The air is all softness.”

 ~ John Keats

Each Tomorrow

The little plant grew without my interference. Started out as one of three sprouts from a sweet potato that I hadn’t gotten around to eat. With a good chunk of sweet potato, I planted the sprouts. After several months, they sat in the soil looking sad. Two of the sprouts had dried up. I was going to throw it out but hesitated and set it outside. I had amended the soil with used coffee grounds and watered it now and then. I ignored it for the most part until one day I saw the tiniest little growth, and then a leaf. With the heat, it has become a lovely little plant that gives me one more leaf every couple of days. The beautiful little leaves make me happy!

Take nothing on its looks; take everything on evidence. There’s no better.”

~ Charles Dickens