Freeze

I live in a subtropical clime,

where exotic plants can grow,

flourish, with care in due time.

Some like bananas and papaya,

need more than a year to produce.

While they give us luscious fruit,

that you and I all love and use.

Native plants can handle a freeze,

as a natural way that they live.

Crêpe myrtle and mimosa, along with,

pecan and wild berries freely give.

Oranges, lemon and lime,

all produce wonderful citrus,

growing in their due time.

Change in climate has made it clear,

tropical exotics can prosper here.

But change in climate has also brought,

with it, wild swings in temperature dear.

Our tropical jungle no longer to appear,

with wild growth and beauty now gone,

next year, new growth to carry on.

If only these occasional freezes,

would end for just a year or two,

our garden would flourish,

and, our crop would ripen, too.

What a wonderful thought,

to look forward to.

Copyright 2023 © Ronald W. Hull

1/12/23

You can read and print this poem my website here.