Always

a Lily under shade peers south
and sees the distant showers
of light striking merry waves and
glistening on beating wings

beneath the matted garden bed
her roots feel out and down,
deep down,
but lose the race toward
remnants of the rains

Coreopsis taunts and flaunts nearby,
knowing a longer morning sun that glows,
oh it glows,
in answer to invisible stars
that dance behind the clouds

Forsythia cuddles close,
too close,
synthesizing life force just beyond
the Lily's humble grasp,
her company no use for care

and a crush of Susans presses in,
ever in,
expanding its relentless will,
two seasons more to occupy
the last small corner of sunshine

and still in shade
and still with thirst
and still while friends stifle
and foes surround
Lily curls her blushing golden lips,
so golden,
to smile for God

a Lily under shade peers south,
always south