Wildflowers

WILDFLOWERS

YOU SOMEHOW EXPECT THEM BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
LIKE SOMEONE PUT THEM THERE FOR PRETTY
BUT WHEN YOU LEAVE THE ROAD
WHEN YOU SAY TO YOURSELF
I'LL WALK TO THAT TREE OR HILL
OR I'LL WALK STRAIGHT NORTH
AND OFF YOU GO
THROUGH THICKET AND BRIARS
AND COOL WOODED SLOPE
AND THERE YOU FIND THEM
IN PLACES
NOT EASILY REACHED
OR OFTEN PASSED
THE EARLY SPRING FLOWERS
SPRING BEAUTY
VIOLET
MARSH MARIGOLD
FIDDLE HEADS OF EMERGING FERN

WHAT A WASTE
WHY NOT SAVE THEM ALL FOR THE ROADSIDE
WHERE EVERYONE CAN SEE THEM
BUT HERE IN A HIDDEN CORNER
ARE THEY A LURE
ARE THEY A REWARD
FOR STRIKING OUT ON ONE'S OWN
ARE THEY A GIFT FOR FINDING OUT
WHAT WEALTH INHABITS A BIT OF EARTH

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME
THAT NOW I SEE THINGS THAT I ONCE RUSHED BY
IS IT AGE THE GROWING OLDER
THAT MAKES ME MORE REFLECTIVE
IS IT THE SLOWING DOWN
WHICH MAKES ME THRILL TO SPRING TIME QUICKENING
IS IT THE SLOWING DOWN
WHICH MAKES ME FEEL A KINSHIP TO AUTUMN

I DO NOT KNOW
I ONLY KNOW
I HAVE THIS URGE
TO FIND OUT WHAT IS OFF THE ROAD
OR ON TOP OF THE HILL
OR IN THE VALLEY
AS IF I WERE COUNTING DAYS
AND FOUND THE DAYS NOT QUITE ENOUGH
NOT QUITE ENOUGH HOURS UNTIL SUNSET

WHEN I AM DONE I GO HOME
TIRED
HAPPY
AND A LITTLE SAD
THAT I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME
RUSHING
TO WHERE
I DID NOT WANT TO GO



Frank A Vollmer