Planting Pansies

I know deep within me that they are transient,

That they will curve their blooming lives to the arc of the sun,

That earth tilt will fix the number of their days, but

I go ahead and plant.

Digging into the quite wet soil of my little flower bed,

I make a little hole for each of my little pansy plants,

Lifting each from its plastic square in its plastic tray,

I place them with quick reverence into their hole.

I know deep within me that they are teaching me,

Teaching me about the transience of all things,

Teaching me about how their bright beauty

Will pass, pass like my wonder, like my reverent planting.

--November 20, 2013