A free-verse poem about observing Nature's springtime beauty.

As I sit on my front porch bench
and absorb the beauty of this day
in early May in northern Louisiana,
the smell of freshly mowed grass
mixes delightfully with scents
of jasmine and sweet olive.

The perfection of a cloudless
azure sky is marred only
by a vapor trail of a jet plane
high overhead, its passengers
too busy to notice the beauty I see.

The neighborhood’s flora are awash
with the vibrant green of springtime.
The flower beds on my block
are filled with spring flowers
flaunting their reds, blues, yellows,
oranges, and white blossoms,
creating eye-catching splashes
of colors.

The breeze plays leaf music
as it sways the smaller branches
of nearby trees to and fro.
The songs of birds blend
into this symphony of Nature
provided for my enjoyment.

The coming and going of neighbors
turning in or out of nearby driveways
momentarily breaks my concentration.
I forget other people have work to do
or errands to accomplish. But I,
I have nothing to prevent me from
allowing the beauty of this May day
to engulf me and refresh my soul.