Misty May Day

Too much rain today to garden, 

but not enough to keep me 

from washing windows. 

I love to see May flowers 

through clean windows.

Here are Lily of the Valley 

growing and blooming 

under the birch tree 

with Lady's Mantle, fern, 

Iris, and a huge-leaved Hosta. 

Primroses and Bleeding Heart (bloom is past) 

line the stone path 

from the back yard to the front yard 

through this bed of shade-loving plants.

I have to clear the path each spring 

with my tiger teeth hand saw,

pulling out the Lily of the Valley 

root mass, but it's worth an hour

of gardening on my knees

and another hour of cleaning window panes

to enjoy both on this misty May afternoon.