Seasons

All Poems, Animals/Insects, For Children, Gardens, Seasons, Stories, Time

Heat Hangs in the Air

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Heat hangs in the air.

A sticky bog to slog, move forward.

Dampening shirts, drying mouths.

But, animals go about their business.

Nary a complaint.

Robins, wrens chirp as though in competition.

Ducks, geese gather by the pond.

A fawn gazes up at me from a bush.

As though sorry I’m wading through goo.

A few Poplar seedpods float by.

Inviting me to make a wish or two.

A pink and gray butterfly hovers atop a coneflower.

The beebalm planted last summer, sings triumphant.

Stretching out and up in glorious profusion.

Red, pink, lavender mops.

Tall rag dolls, hair unkempt, in strings.

Covering eyes, noses, mouths.

Mysterious, exotic.

Waving honey bees in to drink.

Sweet nectar quenching thirst.

Could they spread the word to hummingbirds

before summer days dispersed?

 

Lynn Benjamin

June 27, 2024

All Poems, Environment/Mother Earth, Seasons, Stories, Worry

Heat Rolled In

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Heat rolled in like a blast of steam.

From a boiling pot on the stove.

Around the summer solstice.

Refusing retreat for days.

Sending sparrows, robins to hide.

Up in shady branches.

Pushing ducks, geese into tepid ponds.

Wilting flower petals, leaves.

Forcing dog walkers, strollers indoors.

To air conditioned rooms.

So when, unpredicted, the sky showered,

a thunderous shout of thanks was heard.

All around the neighborhood.

No need to lug out hoses to water.

Finally, relief.

Even I wanted to dance under the drops.

But, to my shock, the downpour wasn’t cool.

The rain like a hot cup of tea.

Instead of refreshing, it warmed the bones.

Some eco catastrophe?

 

 

Lynn Benjamin

June 22, 2024

All Poems, Animals/Insects, Emotions, Farewell, Loss, Natural Beauty, Plants, Pleasure, Seasons

Summer Solstice Arrives

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Summer solstice arrives.

Soaring into the heart of June.

Longest day of the year.

For butterflies, bees, chipmunks.

For me.

Lover of natural illumination.

Walks at dawn and dusk.

With a Tilley hemp hat upon my head.

Tipping it to the sun.

As we tilt closer.

Like I would a glass of champagne.

Celebrating natural milestones.

Red and pink beebalm blooms.

Lips wide, enticing winged creatures.

Bright orange butterfly weed.

Beckoning monarchs, swallowtails.

Linden blooms carpeting lawns.

For queens and princesses to tread.

Mulberries hanging heavy on branches.

Staining streets as they fall.

Congregations of day lilies praying.

Tiny green lemons bursting to life.

Frogs bellowing mating calls.

Does gazing upwards quizzically.

Baby geese growing as large as parents.

Ready to take wing.

Each scene, a piece of the jigsaw.

Filling in the frame of bright June days.

Do plants and animals tire of so much light?

Are they hungrier, thirstier?

Or are they greedy like me?

Wanting to seize sunbeams?

Already sad to bid the solstice farewell.

Bit by bit what’s sunlit will fade.

As earth slips away from sun.

Shorter days bringing nighttime shade.

 

Lynn Benjamin

June 22, 2024

All Poems, Birthdays, Natural Beauty, Pleasure, Seasons

What Month?

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What month were you born in?

Do you feel a special kinship to it?

Like I do after almost seventy-five years?

To the month of June?

What seduced me?

To emerge mid-June?

For I was due the end of May.

What is it about this month?

Granting the longest days?

Shortest nights?

I rejoice in tossing away sleep for daylight.

Running outside in tees and shorts.

Letting sunshine warm face, arms.

Breezes animate, enliven.

Each sense be aroused.

Smells of roses, magnolias, linden blooms.

Tastes of thyme, dill, basil.

Moving to melodies of wrens, robins.

Wandering in rhythm with feet.

Knowing the day lingers.

No cramming, no pressure.

Pace relaxed, not hurried.

Each breath in, a wave of ecstasy.

Filling heart, soul.

Titillating feet, hands.

Like tide pools on the beach.

Warm, balmy.

Each breath out, a wish for more.

A need.

Supplication to return.

Flood the spirit with joy.

The body with sensuous delights.

For June, the perfect combination.

Sounds, sights, caress.

If only she would stay with us,

I’d never seek egress.

Lynn Benjamin

June 11, 2024

All Poems, Food, Natural Beauty, Seasons, Stories

Opening Day

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It was opening day.

At the Horsham Farmer’s Market.

So we decided to try it.

Thinking there’d be lots of stalls with vegetables.

But, finding only three.

With limited produce.

Instead, kiosks of every other sort.

Bagels, cookies, cakes.

Dumplings, waffles, empanadas.

Even several stands with wares for dogs.

Not to mention jewelry, aprons, tees.

The Sunday market, not pleasing us.

Seekers of mushrooms, herbs, novel tastes.

But the stroll in Kohler Park made up for it.

Paths through forests, past geese, wildflowers.

Bridges over creeks.

A maze for meanderers.

Quiet, peaceful.

Mostly solitary in coolest shade.

Alone to breathe in scents of June.

Allow thoughts to wander, not get lost.

Within a green, springtime cocoon.

 

Lynn Benjamin

June 11, 2024

Aging, All Poems, Change, Family, Gym/exercise, Health/Illness, Humor, Love, Pleasure, Seasons, Spouses

Transformation

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Bob transforms before my eyes.

Noting new muscles in stomach, thighs.

Increasing weights on machines.

Walking with zip, alacrity.

Signing up for classes to strengthen core.

Watching carbs, losing weight.

Shrinking from pant size forty to thirty-six.

A number he hasn’t worn since his twenties.

Why do people think a man of seventy-five can’t change?

Even become younger?

Stare at himself in the mirror like a seventeen-year-old?

Study his physique?

Buy stylish clothing?

New undergarments, socks?

Hold my hand, rub my back?

Flirt, enchant, allure with passion?

Wax poetic about flowers?

Blooming clematis, daisies, lavender.

Waiting for bee balm, Echinacea to bare petals.

Attract hummingbirds, butterflies.

Notice mating calls of frogs, foxes?

Cardinals, robins, wrens

Luscious sensuality abounds.

June’s vitality makes it easy to be young.

No matter your age.

Passion floats with pollen through the air.

Settling golden on the skin.

Transfigured, we instantly take care.

With vigor, once again smitten.

 

Lynn Benjamin

June 3, 2024

All Poems, Animals/Insects, For Children, Natural Beauty, Pleasure, Seasons, Stories

May is Full of Stories

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May is full of stories.

Unfolding faster than you can keep up.

Just when one ends, another reveals itself.

Grabbing your attention.

Goslings getting plump, growing gray feathers.

Soon to fly away.

Frogs, silent only days ago, now bellowing for mates.

Cardinals, robins, sparrows cavorting among trees.

Singing to the wind and each other.

A red fox darting about.

Crisscrossing driveways, hiding behind houses.

Chipmunks, squirrels, bunnies playing tag.

Underneath bushes, in gardens.

Breezes swirling with perfumes.

Mixing, mingling.

Magnolias and roses, lavender and rosemary.

Clumps of yellow daylilies.

Hydrangeas carrying bouquets.

Peonies, wisteria, wild roses, comfrey.

The earth sings and dances just for us.

Bursts out in hues and smells.

Enchants, enthralls, no need for words.

Absorbs us in its spells.

 

Lynn Benjamin

May 29, 2024

Aging, All Poems, Animals/Insects, Change, Natural Beauty, Seasons, Time, Trees

I Shake my Head

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I shake my head at my youthful self.

Longing to stay in bed till nine.

Despite sunshine poking through panes.

For now, when I see first gleams of light, I sit straight up.

Wanting to catch them.

Jump forward, follow them.

Close the door behind me.

Bask in sights, smells.

Linden leaves, roses.

Lilacs, honeysuckles.

Rhythms of the season.

Caws, cheeps, trills.

Honks, hammers, vibratos.

Early rising birds.

Claiming soil, sky.

I want to hear morning symphonies.

Inhale perfumed lands.

Before the rush of traffic.

Humming engines, shrieking brakes.

Students parking cars.

Rushing toward classes.

Before the goose family arises.

Hatchlings in a comfy ball.

Fuzz greying into feathers.

Before the day swings underway.

Wakes up, stretches, yawns.

How much time have I left to find?

How many unspent dawns?

 

Lynn Benjamin

May 25, 2024

All Poems, Animals/Insects, Disappointment, Food, For Children, Gardens, Humor, Seasons, Stories

What Happened to the Peas?

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What happened to the peas? asked Bob.

Seeing them pushed over, flattened.

After climbing lush, green, tall.

Was it the rain the night before?

Battering them down?

Leveling them?

It couldn’t be deer.

For all the deterrents laid.

Maybe bunnies.

Nibbling to nubs.

Leaving nothing for groundhogs.

Insects, birds.

Nothing for us, this season.

Last year’s pods, prolific.

Sitting on the deck flowering, fruiting.

Away from reach of rabbits.

Moved downstairs to the back yard.

Where hungry creatures forage.

Making more space above.

Surely, these rabbits trampling peas

have a fine gourmet palate.

I hope they reject cucumber leaves

for their next May time salad.

Our sacrifice, contribution

to well-being of cottontails.

We owe them hearty ovation

for attention to green details.

 

Lynn Benjamin

May 24, 2024

All Poems, Creation, Growth, Humor, Natural Beauty, Pleasure, Seasons

Season for Pollen

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May is the season for pollen.

But, have you ever seen it billow by?

Yellow mist emanating from pine trees?

On gentle spring breezes?

Some finding targets.

Inside female hidden parts.

To fertilize, make seeds.

The rest gilding lawns, streets.

Chairs, tables.

Doors, windows.

Wafting into unsuspecting eyes, noses.

Showers of golden powder.

Leaving telltale patinas everywhere.

But, given the sheer quantity,

some will find a mate.

Shimmy into seductive cones.

Surely propagate.

Standing inside the cloudburst,

bathing in the dust,

arouses amorous excitement

with each puffy gust.

 

Lynn Benjamin

May 22, 2024