Seed Time

Seed catalogs have come again

     To tempt our eager eyes,

A glowing, gorgeous spectacle

     Of back-yard paradise.

Long rows of dahlias down the walks

     And mounds of “four o’clocks”;

Sunflowers by the garden wall,

     A hedge of hollyhocks.

Raspberries, luscious, black and red,

     And vegetables galore;

Gooseberries, currants, corn and beans

     A rich and wondrous store.

Rhubarb close by the garden path,

     Rose bushes all ablaze,

The springtime catalogs present

     In most attractive ways.

B’jones way out in Lonelyburg

     Has catalogs piled high;

And everything he spies within’    

     He surely wants to try.

He plans for fruit and vegetables

     For self and neighbors, too;

And fills his helpmeet’s tired ears

     With what he’s going to do.

It’s fine to have seed catalogs,

     When springtime comes around,

And plan what you are going to do

     On your small patch of ground.

It’s fine to dream of Lonelyburg

     All through the office grind,

And read those brilliant catalogs

     And farm it in your mind.

Feb. 28, ‘09