One Wonderful Word

 A sunny smile for a cold, growl-y night...

It crossed my lips today

A lovely little word

And in its lilting assonance

A thousand scenes were stirred

Of bare feet teasing pasture ponds

Or turquoise-skirted beach

Of afternoons, green-gold and bronze

Flavored with sun-ripe peach

Of white adrift on azure seas

Of heady honey-suckle breeze

Through sweeping, sighing willow-trees

Where memories beseech

Who knew a word can kiss

The air with poetry

And hang its pretty verses where

Only thought’s eye can see

Of morning, sweet with dew and dust

Of gardens pink with plume

Of puddle-mirrors, wanderlust

In nature’s living-room

Of fence where musky wild grapes climb

Of honey-bee in blue-bell chime

…One wonderful word; summertime

Sets winter-hearts a-bloom

© Janet Martin

For summer-lovers