May 07, 2023

Red Oleander

 

 

 

Red Oleander, watercolor by Deb Pollard

 

A salamander pale green as the new leaves of May
opens its orange lung-sac, brilliant, to the sun.
Three times at every pause!
In the breeze, red Oleander bends on her long stem, celebrating.
I am drawn down a quiet lane by the scent of jasmine
beguiling my heart, a path toward joy.
The dear Earth wafts up into me,
warm as fresh-baked bread,
filling my womb with Her love.
With my feet in the sand,
I pull Her love into me,  to power my days.
Mother holds me tenderly, the mourning dove
in her palmetto-basket nest, giving, giving,
we Her babies, Her vast dream,
we Her future and Her now.
The black fin of a dolphin arises from the sea, ancient as days,
loving Her into the fathomless tomorrow.

Annelinde Metzner, June 1, 2010


Delight abounds in the month of May, moving slowly through the world, admiring each new green being.  And giving thanks for my friend Deb Pollard, whose art above, the pulsating life of May in which the dolphins rejoice, was inspired by my poem.  And many thanks to Feminism and Religion for publishing my poems, including this one today.



Red Oleander