June 1, 2020

The Queen's Hospitality

I stop and ask the box turtle
soldiering across the road,
Where are you going, friend?
Can I help you along?

To the spotted frog
diving back into his watery hole,
away from the thud-suck of boots,
I say, You're welcome here, friend.
Please make yourself at home.

I holler at two circling buzzards,
their shadows passing through
the tall grass like fish in reeds,
Did you find something good?
Come back any time now, y'hear?

I spray a strong garlic solution
on the garden beds to ward off
wild rabbits, but remind them
when we meet in the orchard,
Y'all eat all the grass you want.

But when the bees arrive, I
pull out all the stops. Look!
I tell them, cupping a daylily
and brushing the lavender,
I planted these for you, yours.

Will you take some
home to your momma for me?
She keeps me sane, grounded.
It's the very least I can do.