My kitchen has always been a busy place
that occupies my days.
It welcomes family and friends alike
And serves in many ways.
It has a picture window
where I often stand to view
The fascinations of nature
While cooking, perhaps, a stew.
I wonder why the Blue Jay
defies the danger of its play,
As he swoops down on the patio
to the cats' bowl everyday.
I put bird seed in the feeder
so safe up in the tree.
Why he prefers the cats' food
is a mystery to me.
And the scrawny little Hibiscus tree
was an epic in the making.
Oft full of buds that never bloomed,
My attention I was forsaking.
As I poured my morning coffee one day,
I glanced, as I always do,
to see what nature had in store for me-
My senses to renew.
Oh, Lord, I can't believe my eyes.
Is that really a flower I see?
What glorious color, and, oh so proud
Is that small Hibiscus tree.
Frost warnings came on the news all day-
"Protect your plants", the newscasters say.
So I spread the mulch over the roots of young trees
Praying, "Keep them all safe, dear Lord, please"
As I approached the small Hibiscus tree,
reality set in-
It's leaves were dry and curled up,
much to my chagrin.
The tree was supported by a tall green stick,
tied with a plastic band.
As I reached to straighten the little tree,
it broke off in my hand.
The beautiful flower was its swan song-
It must have known its fate.
It rewarded my window wonder
before it was too late!
