Titania’s Vow
It is tempting
in the spring—to count
the losses.
Lingonberry
which promised
to persist through
any weather.
Butterfly weed
whose clusters
draw the monarch,
feed the young.
The new currant
meant to capture,
once again,
those tart-sweet mornings!
Now the rains uncover and uncover.
By April, cruellest month,
I will turn to see beginnings
of what has survived:
Sage, thyme, shiso,
my daughter’s birthday rose.
Parsley, lavender, rosemary.
Blueberries in the back yard.
Blackberries (four varieties).
The split maple grown tall—so tall—
And enough mint
to make Moroccan tea
all summer,
for anyone
who happens by.
Even my ailing Oberon.
—L.L. Barkat, author of Rumors of Water: Thoughts on Creativity & Writing
Note: Titania and Oberon are the queen and king of the fairies in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Oberon rules winter and Titania rules summer.
I am struck by the gustatory [just found that word online] imagery of "tart-sweet mornings!" I also don't often get to see an exclamation mark in poetry, and I'm enjoying this little detail.
Now, I'm imagining the feeling of a tart-sweet morning. I can sense it, but am trying to put my finger on what details it might include. Thanks for sharing this poem with us and opening up this lovely path of ideas for me, and others, to peruse.
such a lovely piece here, light and breezy, full of pauses for thought