Gather ye zinnias
while ye may,
and salute not much
with patchwork nosegay.
With spikes of cool lavender,
chrysanthemum puff,
in little glass pitchers
not much is enough.
It doesn’t take big
to bring joy to our eyes;
the palette of zinnias
is its own giant size.
With apologies to Robert Herrick,
and thanks to my dear friend Donna for the zinnia seeds!
A frilly dot of marigold
a snip of lemon thyme
a dainty plume of tarragon
phlox snow at fragrant prime
radiant brown-eyed Susans
Rudbeckia at the crown:
smallness revels in itself
sans the world’s renown.
In mahogany satin flounce
flirting shamelessly
with vagabond sun
my neighbor’s tree
lifts its buds
coquettishly
tendering rosy nosegay
in leafy filigree.
