Old Garden

By John I. Blair

Depending on my bank account
And the year’s weather
About once a quarter
I hire a man to “civilize” my garden,
Most of which consists
Of whatever stays alive
And thrives in Texas weather
While bringing pleasure to my eye.

There are lots of Redbuds, jasmine,
Holly, honeysuckle, mustang grapes,
Mockorange, coral berry,
Nandina, oaks and elms
Plus quantities of things whose names
I’ve never learned or just forgotten.
A jungle, honestly, but mine,
And rich with many years of memories,
A living metaphor
For what I think to be a truth—
That everything is beautiful If rightly viewed.

©2023 John I. Blair 5/31/2023