Imagining the Month

yoshino trees

unfurl their leaves and flower here

in late winter or early spring

but lose the power

to transport the human spirit

before the end of summer

in the long stretch of dry august

buds and hidden nodes

on darkened limbs

wait together for the cool season

for the angled rays of sun

but the tired leaves

mottled with yellow

and black spots

wilt

give up

the ghost

i always imagined

i would die with them

in one of those august months

at the appointed year and hour

but now with only two more days

left before september begins to advertise

october's much-anticipated parade

of hues and with more work to do

setting the fall gardens to right

i feel fortunate if not blessed

to not be going anywhere just yet

glad to be sticking around for a bit

honestly if truth be articulated

i really thought i would die

in the month of may

but that feels a long way off

so maybe there’s not so much

at this moment to fret about

with the holidays coming and

strings of light transforming dark

with beds to refresh during thaws

and small holes to dig to fill

with mail-order perennials

delivered in recycled cardboard

at about the same time the delicate

blush flowers of the cherries return

i want to see that

it’s such a miracle how these plants

purchased online are born again

when you unpack the cartons

the very act of opening the boxes

is a conversation with old friends

as you let some fresh air and light

come in and replace the shredded packaging

that keeps fragile stalks from breaking