Sue Russell

in this land
brick retaining walls swell with moss
ivy enfold tree trunks in a moist embrace
a palate of lavender and jade
transforms to raucous yellow, rust, and red
and finally to hydrocephalic sunflowers

but this year
a torrid wind dries the earth to cracked stone
the thistle leaf scrapes the landscape with a gasp of green
her mummified ochre bloom
hangs its dead head from a brittle stalk
yet an optimistic oak sinks roots into dust
searching for the precious cool