The dragonflies have left and
only the wood pigeons and a few friends
insist on being noticed

The magnolia is already saving itself
for next spring
The wind has blighted the upper leaves

With cherry blossom now long gone
the main tree stretches out for sunlight
and makes the most of its shaggy haircut

In between the red bricks of the car port
small scraps of green blotch like
felt tip on graph paper

At the bottom of the bank the grass is thicker
a scouting party of daisies appear diffident
There’s a sole dandelion feigning innocence

A squat dwarf willow crouches like a country hat
My wife wants to put two cartoon eyes on it
to make it a muppet

At a discreet distance a thin tree with paler leaf
is propped by a wooden post
A few branches don’t have any foliage at all

This latest addition appears healthy but almost
like life is drawing straws