The Sunflower

Already nine feet tall, the sunflower,

Past its own blossoms, reaches for the sky;

Joggers jog resolutely by, toward a goal

They never will attain. The cherry tree

Extends a gentle branch toward the street.

The suburban prospect’s a bower

Compared to the tangled woods behind.

I realize we serve a purpose after all:

Make room for Nature's far more complex art.

In that, at least, I play some little part.

Note: Our word bower derives from Old English būr, meaning “dwelling” (Merriam-Webster). Cf. "burrow."

Saturday, July 5, 2025