House ii

  To mark rmbl's fifth
  year, I happily turn
  to an admired compil-
  ation by J.D. McClat-
  chy which I've cited
  repeatedly over the
  years, without per-
  mission. One cannot
  claim authority, ei-
  ther, not to share a
  a generous creation.

      ..

      And suddenly now this small

    Unlooked for joy. Where did it come from,

      With these pale shoots

    And drooping lavender bell? Persistent

      Intruder, whether or not

    I want you, you've hidden in the heart's

      Overworked subsoil. Hacked at

    Or trampled on, may you divide and spread,

      Just as, last night,

    The wind scattered a milkweed across the sky.

J.D. McClatchy

The Rest of the Way

  Weeds

  fragment: 2nd of 2 verses

op. cit.