The sunflower head stands on tall, towering stalk,
Stored up seeds like arrows for shooting
Into the future, releasing grasp on time
Letting go of time stored up, letting go of now.
Sunflowers wilting on brown stalks,
bachelor buttons still brilliant blue with promise like eyes
That play football, two-a-days this Fall;
Marigolds still sticking up, like lighters holding vigil, orange flames.
Tomato vines have given their last,
green arms no longer heavy laden.
Leaves are browning like pages hard to turn,
Outgrown their cages, a mess like unkempt hair, full of tangles.
The garden keeps time, a different watch than mine,
The soil nourishing change, slow, a steady rhythm
The plants tell time, heard it from the clouds, the sun, the rain.
They pass on a certain rumor I’ve heard that all kids grow up someday.
