A Garden Afar

Over vales and fields,

lies a garden afar.

The beauty of its three flowers

call to me.

So I travel winding road

for a day to gaze upon,

to joy in,

and to learn from them.

~~~~~

The first, a bright crocus,

puts springtime delight

in a heart shivering over

her wintry surroundings.

As I bow to smell

her playful fragrance,

and feel chubby, little petals against my cheek,

I wonder how one so small

- and too far away -

can put such great love

in a grandfather's heart?

~~~~~

My next flower is a bold tulip -

how colorful, grace-filled, and statuesque she stands!

The snows melt away

before her charming aroma,

her radiant joy,

and the musical glory of springtime

she sends forth heavenward.

The father longs for the times

his tulip was in garden near;

yet gives thanks that Another

cares for her so well.

~~~~~

The last flower, a fading red rose,

has drooping head

and slowly dropping petals.

The cruel winter

has been so very hard upon her.

Yet the season of long cold

has removed her thorns

that made it so very hard

to draw near.

Now the son sees in her

the favored color

of her Gardener,

and smells from her a sweet aroma

from a garden

yet further still.