It is hard to flower in the shade.
Floral display is for the bees
and pollinators who see
the value and possibility
of a plant to survive beyond its seed.
Nectar moves with pollen from darkest night
and plants mingle and join in plain sight,
to be more and to do more
than simply survive. They strive to thrive.
In deep shade plants may stay alive.
Hosta flowers with a single note.
Its flower pulses high above leaves long and wide,
a surprise symphony of courage and pride.
Flowers who manage to grace the dark
appear as pale as moonlight,
or tiny and overly bright as minuscule suns,
miniature versions of sun-garden cousins.
Shade gardens offer a place to hide
amid dark plants struggling to flower
when one knows one cannot.
The smallest birds and animals shelter there
beneath broad leaves, safe from hawks
and others who prey on such as they.
When the shine of bright light and heat of sun
becomes too much, we run
to shelter in the shade, listen to its music,
dance on its cool earth, and have some fun.
Flowers would be nice.
Sun’s beauties have a price
some of us cannot afford to pay.
Peace comes in the darkest glades.
I happily, and lovingly, sit in the shade.
annarino writes 