Molly Frederick’s most recent poem to appear here was Returning (September 2011).
Brown-Eyed Susans
By Molly Frederick
Singed by the sun,
every green leaf
shredded to blonde.
Every brown eye
blackened into
desolation.
Every strong stem
emaciated into
a stiff, dark wand,
all magic flown.
And to think
I passed them by,
in their green
and golden prime,
thinking
not mine–not mine
to pick, to have,
to keep.
Not meant for me.
Not mine.
Who would own them now?
Except the rain.
Or the snows,
which fall the same
over everything,
making no pretense
of owning
anything.
Or of lasting forever.
Ah, me.
Loved this so much! Thank you!
a nice flow-
layers
pleasure in reading it
thank you!