Such greenness growing
from the dark soil of spring
and into bright air:
hairy vines rich with dew;
yellow blossoms calling bees.
Red should be desired long
before you learn its taste;
should ripen in your mind
an unburdened fruit.
Philip Venzke’s poems have been published widely both here and abroad. A prize winning chapbook was published in 2022 by Survision Books. His second chapbook of poetry was released by Finishing Line Press in November 2023.