Leaves

HAIKU

Leaves torched with colors

of flaming scarlet and gold

wear frosty white wraps

3/14/90 Phyllis DeWitt-VanVleck

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November

WINTER CURSE

When harvest days are over
And leaves have left the trees
November blows her cold breath
And we all cough and wheeze

11/02 Phyllis DeWitt-VanVleck

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Haiku for Fall

HAIKU

Brittle umber leaves

       pirouette to the cold ground

              in their dance of death

3/14/90 Phyllis VanVleck

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After the rain

HAIKU

Warm gentle raindrops

cupped leaves filling with moisture

bird’s summer chalice

9/7/03 Phyllis DeWitt-VanVleck

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Perfidy of that Blue Purveyor

The Perfidy Of That Blue Purveyor
Of Gastronomic Pleasure

That patch of sunlight down in the meadow
beckoned relentlessly
whenever the cabin door opened.
Rows of sticks once stark in their nudity,
are regal in their support of green leaves
and curling tendrils, that spiral around
lush clusters of succulent blue Concord globs.
The sweetest summer nectar, lies hidden
between the lush royal blue skin
and the tart congealed marble it covers.
Squeezing it “just so”, you consume that glob,
like swallowing a raw egg in a glass of beer – –
plop and it’s gone. The blue skin is then tossed
to the gnats that hover the vines.
But, oh, that divine layer of juice
that lies just under the skin, beckoning – –
just one more.
Mama sent me down there with a basket,
to pick those destined for a jelly jar.
I don’t know how many I consumed,
but even before my gluttony ended,
everyone of those tart congealed globs made
their presence known, and came sliding out
as I retched, forming a neat pile
of what appeared to be fish eyes staring up at me.
Never again will I see one, without seeing the other.
Even now, I check my glass of wine, to see
if there might possibly be an eye
staring up at me from the bottom of the glass

3/11/01 Phyllis DeWitt -VanVleck

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Nature as it ought to be

     SENSING BEAUTY

 

As morning shows her golden face

After late evening showers

I watch the busy hummingbirds

Dining on my flowers

 

Squirrels are eating sunflower seeds

I scattered on the lawn

But take time out to play a bit

Then, up a tree and gone

 

Two lively sibling rabbits

Enjoy a game of chase

The squirrels are back, and two join in

Challenging a race

 

Chipmunks share the scattered seed

And hurry underground

Then come right back for more of same

And pouch each seed that’s found

  

The birds are singing melodies

Led by a mockingbird

His concert is magnificent

A treat that must be heard

 

Leafy trees cast patterned lace

That filigrees my lawn

They offer birds construction sites

Until the season’s gone

 

Flowering bushes here and there

Join fragrant garden blooms

And kiss the air with heady scents

As nature’s own perfume

 

I’m blessed to sense such beauty

And such tranquility

I can’t think of another place

That I would rather be

 

5/27/96     Phyllis DeWitt VanVleck

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