Sonnet 84

by Don Yorty

My only brother with his bulldozer

Pushed the brush away from the day lilies

Uprooting thorns and sumac completely

Around the bed revealing for mother

Those common flowers in all their glory.

Now if only she’ll come to look at them

Making her way to the lower yard and

Sitting on the swing there near the swamp see

How the long hard stalk shooting up becomes

A flame in flames just like the fireworks

Are going to explode July the Fourth.

Look, here she comes to watch the explosions

Noticing the swallows swooping above.

Nothing animates us more than love.