Life of a Garden Club, A Poem

via Daily Prompt: Survive

Evergreen Garden Club.

Founded September 2004 – Concluded May 2017.

The Life of a Garden Club that is Evergreen,

Twelve is the times the Butterfly Garden has been planted by students unseen

The Monarch Way Station Sign is seen but not read, signaling a special precaution to

those who truly care:  Don’t spray this space, is what is implied,

it is here to offer hope for a another species to survive.

The milkweed has erupted, but lonely still

awaiting the visit leaving an egg on its leaf.

Perennials already tall, verdant is the color that comes to call.

In spots, overcrowded, in spots it is bare –

Just like my heart – laying open, if you care.

The winter plow has done its damage again, just like year upon previous year

with the side-walk remaining cracked and unfixed.

How long before it is mended? We’ll see. It obviously has taken its share of kicks.

Our old tree stump is joined by a healthy new tree,

adding another memory of loss and what was only to be.

The students still have awe and wonder in their eyes,

it is I who is tearing as I bid them good-bye.

It is time to move on, but the growth will not stop.

The students, the plants, and I will survive, even if

Evergreen Garden Club now only exists in our minds.

 

Inspired by Evergreen Garden Club and the Daily Prompt: Survive

 

7 responses to “Life of a Garden Club, A Poem”

  1. Robin Hosemann Avatar

    Heartfelt and moving, indeed. Thank you for your long commitment to outdoor education, Carol. Your work is important.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Jessica Avatar

    Aw. I bet it is super hard to let that go.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. theapplesinmyorchard Avatar

      Thanks, I’m doing ok. Next year will be hard when students are in session and I’m not doing it.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Jessica Avatar

        Understandable. 🙂

        Like

  3. […] this past week I wrote about summer enrichment opportunities in mathematics for students,  a poem about garden club ending, a student’s gift, the music of memorial day, and a photo journal of […]

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    […] of death 104. Crusty Monkeys – Survive 105. To Survive.. – Golden Pink Journal 106. Life of a Garden Club, A Poem – The Apples in My Orchard 107. Giggles & Tales – The Daily Prompt – Survive! 108. Survive – britishsouthasian […]

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I’m Carol

Welcome to my space, where I’ve been blogging since February 2017.

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Publicatons

An Anthology of Ekphrastic Nature Poetry with twenty-five authors from four countries. Featuring the poets’ color photography and a variety of poem types. Written for middle-grade students, their teachers, and homeschooled students. Published in 2024 by Northern Loon Press.
My chapbook of poetry (2022) is available on Amazon.