…
My only brother with his bulldozer
pushed the brush away from the day lilies
uprooting thorns and sumac completely
around the bed revealing for Mother
those common flowers in all their glory.
Now if only she’ll come to look at them
making her way to the lower yard and
sitting on the old swing near the swamp see
how the hard green stalk shooting up becomes
petals sharp as comets like the fireworks
are going to explode on July the Fourth.
Look, here she comes to watch the explosions
as the night with a swallow swoops above.
There’s nothing animates us more than love.
…
…
…
Dad, Mom and Me (summer 1950)
…