First House
Spring 2008
 

1

Cheery blossoms
in our second year
in this first house
are expected,
but still
startling,
opening
pink and white,

then layering
the lawn.

Just soon enough
I break
off a branch
to take in to
my office,
where one after
another
the older women
comment
on the scent
in the corridor,
and on my magnificent
stick

of apple blossom. 
They are quite certain
of that.

2

Weeds bloom the brightest
green, ivy, nasturtium,
blackberry that we leave
for the sake of berries
later in the year.

We buy a compost bin,
but spend our days doing
the usual

coffees
movies
beers
books

till jasmine flowers
up the windows.

3

The neighbours chainsaw
trees, clearing space
for azaleas and citrus.

The young man from a farm
knows how to deal
with these things.

In passing he mentions
two of our trees need to go.

I look up to where the
silver branches reach
through telephone wires
to the blue.