Ode to My Backyard Garden
O mighty, O valiant
flowered phalanxes,
patrolling the patio perimeter!
Sharp-pointed hostas flank
two imposing hydrangeas
holding pride of place,
one uniformed in periwinkle,
the other, salmon pink,
their blooms thrusting
purposefully toward the sky.
Snowy-petaled Shasta daisies
with bright lemon centers —
the next line of defense —
gently wave in formation,
gathering intelligence,
heads pressing together
in silent exchanges.
Outermost are the sturdy sentinels,
daylilies hued in saffron and amber,
their ranks constantly replenished,
ever watchful for marauders,
especially Inscrutable Thomas,
the neighbors’ orange tabby,
a stealthy, persistent intruder.
O carry on, carry on,
my intrepid army
of blossoms!
— Martha Golensky
