northern summer
a leopard frog climbs
the viper’s bugloss
.
.

©️2021 Ontheland
northern summer
a leopard frog climbs
the viper’s bugloss
.
.
©️2021 Ontheland
high octane days
the flutter of wings and
sweet nectar
©️2021 Ontheland
summer heat
my mind a jungle
of sunflowers
©️2021 Ontheland
cloud cover —
through the stifling air
a tendril spirals
.
.
©️2021 Ontheland
slender buds . . .
a day lily opens
first summer moon
.
.
©️2021 Ontheland
I notice the scalloped leaf edges, how each leaf attaches to the base of a flower stem. I see a royal lady’s collar and remember a name: ‘Lady’s Mantle’.
border plant
imagining a story
for her name
I later read that a ‘mantle’ is not a collar, but a sleeveless cloak. The name Lady’s Mantle was inspired by the leaves. It refers to their resemblance to a scalloped cloak shown in images of the Virgin Mary.
lady’s mantle
her royal collar holds
a cluster of stars
©️2021 Ontheland
contentment
the grasses nodding
gold threading green
.
.
©️2021 Ontheland
down the road
the dogs snoring through
the booming bass
.
.
©️2020 Ontheland
tall shadows
flickering on the wall
porch moths
.
.
©️2020 Ontheland
after the rains
a chirping sound
downstairs
I find a lone cricket
looking out the window
.
.
late summer
cavorting by the house
a cohort of crickets
.
©️2020 Ontheland