Regional Poetry

regional poet

Patrick Harvey

single falling leaf joining the autumn cascade one among millions

covered in elm leaf bedding lives digging in for winter

a thin line between soil and sentient beings burrowing for warmth

crossing through the boundary to fall and become new earth

days are shorter now wrapped up in our old bedding nights getting colder

up early for meditation refuge is a thick sweater

boundless gratitude to factory ancestors who made it so warm

bows to the retail workers who sold it at a discount

passed like buddha ’ s robe perfect gift of morning warmth through countless kind hands

another fall day begins sudden gust of cold north wind

arvesting fresh thyme from the bush out by the creek fingers smell like soup

remembering Thanksgivings air thick with steam and stuffing

sage and rosemary violet and peppermint, grown in pots out back

herbs drying by the window for kitchen magic and cooking

adding lavender to an old tea recipe how will that work out?

healing passed from age to age hand to hand in a warm cup

recipes remembered through all these generations smiling through the steam

slow wisdom of iron pots soil, spoons and Grandma ’ s stories

h

oodbyeG to old Grandmother Rosemary, Tangled Queen of one corner of our nest, ‘til lost in deadly cold last February, Today her bare bones gathered to their rest Garden gloves bear reminders of perfume, Traces of green wisdom steeped into teas, Hot stews whose rich aroma filled the gloom With springtime wildness, deep in winter ’ s freeze And now the tangled bundle ’ s laid aside, Her little patch of royal ground will sing A new Queen, enthrone the next green-clad bride, Fills September breeze with perfume like spring, Tomorrow is Rosemary ’ s, gowned in green, The Queen has departed, God save the Queen!