Star Wheel

flower show—

a crocheted doily

under each pot

late-morning quiet—

a dusting of pollen

on the wedding table

bridal reception—

the queen anne’s lace

still unarranged

flowered latticework—

the plein air painting

lacks the arachnids

long-weekend getaway—

the star-wheel embroidery

still unfinished

clearing skies—

I look up “marquesa”

in my computer dictionary

the harpist’s sigh . . .

bridesmaid’s bouquet

askew on the head table

hands up!

the bride’s bouquet

in mid air

pulling daisy petals . . .

the country church bell

down for repairs

Texas diner—

the tip jar

filled with pesos

pomp and circumstance

the giggling kindergartner

trips on her robe

heavy garbage can—

sweet clover

from here to the lane

prairie flower—

your sketch

of just its fallen petal

aching thumb—

bumblebee

yellows the swatter

arching Frisbee—

a leafy bower

hides the garden doorway

the “Old Louisiana” crochet pattern

she tells me is hers . . .

intermittent rain

my cavalier remark

asking what she’s done all day—

steaming lasagna

waving here and there

over our Birkenstocks,

starflowers

newly painted trellis—

the agent arrives

to lift out the Sold sign

comatose teenager . . .

“Happy New Year”

whispered in her ear

gentle lawn sprinkler—

the fancy-free first grader

twirls in the garden

Arabian night—

sand ticking

the Moorish window

impossible

to write about—

governor’s lady

farmhouse wedding—

nosegays reflecting

in the mantel mirror

honeymoon suite—

crinoline and velvet

fall to the floor

snowflake fantasy—

the unfinished puzzle pieces

swept off the table edge

May flowers—

a change-of-address sticker

on redirected mail

April morning—

the last page

shuts by itself