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