MILKWEED PODS

Sweltering August day, following Gramie’s path

through tall steamy field grass, plucking

perfect pods, newly bursting with

faerie hair stars, weighted only by their

oval brown seed. The sky above fills with

hundreds of feather-light starbursts

emerge as each pod bursts open,

once green-black-yellow-white

striped worms take flight

as monarch butterflies

all a mesmerizing sight.

Gently picked pods fill her canvas sack,

destined for more days of drying

out on a hot sunporch. Later in fall, with

her patient direction, permission

to be wild and creative, pods

become magical ornaments for 

holiday trees. Paint, beads, glitter,

seeds, ribbons, brightly colored yarn,

sequins, patience all invested.

Dioramas display miniature deer

romping through cotton snow,

dried fern trees, painted skies,

adorning the common milkweed pods

repurposed into treasured memories

for generations to ponder.

LEWIS’ RAINBOW

Early morning sky
turns from deep lilac
to a light creamsicle hue.

first silvery flash of dawn
ignites the sun
into a flaming pumpkin.

passing rain shower
snuffs it out,
revealing a brilliant rainbow

quickly blown away by a gusty breeze
on a cool, drizzly
October day.