Of Joys Lent

The Ides of June smile and slip through the deep green-laden tree

The tides of peony and lupine sail to memory

Wait, wait, the won’dring poet pleads with pen still poised to snare

The pictures of summer’s first love fading into thin air

The fond farewell of friendships is akin to flowers spent

Then lingers on our thought the glad remembrance of joy lent

For pleasure does not always pour its measure in a rose

But when it does we treasure it for soft its season flows

Love fills our calendars with appointments that we must keep

Wait, wait, the busy poet pleads where June days wake, then sleep

Its blessing like a freefall of contentment, bittersweet

Where joy lent sheds its moments like petals beneath our feet

Somewhere a land flows with red rose and little girl and boy

It gathers in its kind caress the echoes of lent joy

While, all the while the smile of God refurbishes the deep

Where bud of bloom and being offer new echoes to keep

© Janet Martin

"Wait, wait", I pleaded as the calendar startled me with realization 

that we are over halfway through one of my favorite months!

One of the little girls I babysit just completed junior kindergarten and announced 'the reason that summer is the best season ever is HOLIDAYS!!!'(do 4 yr. olds already think that?;)) 'but winter is a good season too', she continues, 'because

winter makes Christmas and then we get to celebrate Jesus!"

Well, how does anyone top that? I ask of you

A little child surely does lead us old fogies:)

Five little children here today to lead me;-)