Yamka & The Eagle Feathers

I like to yield orrisroot and the blackberry lily
with a mix of other rhizomes, corms and bulbs
I gather them early spring in my yucca basket 
The one that Yamka made for me years ago

She often spoke of the new moons
Where the flowers are abundantly infinite
Dancing under the pearlescent light
The blossoms open to honor the phasing moon

I recall her showing me how the ivy grows
We walked near the ravine gathering stones
She showed me how to find wild asparagus
And lost arrowheads in the sand of cactus

I was just looking at my wooden wind mill
the storms broke the blades yesterday
I am grateful to the wind storm though
The squirrel families rotting tree was spared

Have you noticed my potters urns are filled
I thought I would grow some carnations
Seems the mites always get to my gladiolas
So this year I have planted some more hollyhocks

I was wondering about the pheasants too
As I watched my dogs flushing the wild grasses
I thought about those peacocks and eagle feathers
Wondering if I should put them in my hat…

Story Poems: Victoria L. McColley