Godspeed: Emails from My Garden

Helen,
Birds are back!
Wren wakes me before dawn
Catbird calls me to the garden
After the long winter, I love these
useful days…
To life, my friend
K

Lydia,
Berries sugaring on the counter,
this morning’s pick. Think
shortcake — the Fourth and
fireworks. Looking forward to
family,
K


Helen,
Kids here for long weekend. Boys
growing fast, excited for school
to start. L says half their classmates
will get free lunch this year. We must
do more than love our own, my friend.
We must do more.
K

Lydia,
The Gentle Shepherd bloomed today - finally
ivory petals opened to a golden throat
An unassuming lily - yet long awaited
When you come home, I’ll send a cutting
back with you - every garden needs a
gentle shepherd.
Love,
K


Helen,
Made my annual trip to the apple orchard
today thinking all the way of other falls, of
family. Kids climbing high, reaching for the
perfect apple, tugging a loaded wagon over
bumpy ground, sun warm on our backs.
Climbing not allow in orchard these days.
Still — Happy times, my friend,
K

Lydia,
Put in fall bulbs this morning —
Remembrance, my favorite purple crocus
A hundred reasons to want for spring
Recalling yur summer visit, our walks
together in the garden, so sending this
soft reminder — plant your own fall bulbs
to bloom in spring.
K


Helen,
Cold today. Thinking of summer — tomatoes
setting on in the garden — bees busy in the
beans. The promise of way too much
zucchini. Pulled vegetable soup from
the freezer for lunch. Filled me up.
Here’s to health, my friend
K

Lydia,
Made my annual trip to the apple orchard
today — beautiful drive. Wealthy Cortland,
Macs — a truckfull — too many, I suppose,
yet not near enough. Thinking of apple pies
and crisps, mulled cider for the holidays,
cinnamon and clove. Wishing you home.
Godspeed,
K

 
Kathleen Serley.jpg

Kathleen Serley is a lifelong Wisconsin resident and retired educator.  She has a Ph.D from UW-Madison and serves as Mid-Central VP for Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets.  Her poems have appeared in The Solitary Plover, Volga River Review, Peninsula Pulse, Verse Wisconsin and Verse and Vision where she won the Artists’ Choice award.