by Elsa Johnson

There goes another notch on the wheel  :  goldfinch

changing his summer garb to drab sparrow guise –

the way the missus goes all year  —   only a hint

of yellow leaking through as he barbers sunflowers

And now comes actea round again   she of many

names —  cohosh   bugbane   cimicifuga  :  Fairy

candles    that open their small white asterisks

and cast out their honey-scent to draw in late

bumbling bees    The trees are breaking their too-

green-too-chemical bonds    Origami is at

her drawing board in the attic lost in dreams of

color:  crimson   vermillion   and coral lake   In

the wings   dragon quietly fans his icy breath

listening for the next notch of the wheel