Let it be

Close up photo showing new growth on a giant, old tree.

Dormant ancient tree,
ageing, greying, still standing:
life survives and thrives.

Gone

Setting sun visible through garden tree canopies.

Watering our plants,
we look over the fencing—
the day got away.

So be it

photo of a vibrant red strawberry on the bush, a huge chunk of it bitten off

I pour blood and sweat
into preparing the soil;
galahs eat my fruit.

Ripe

Close up photo of strawberries on a bush, with one strawberry starting to ripen. There’s a single dollop of red in the otherwise green strawberry.

Starting to ripen,
first drop on a plain canvas—
strawberries make art.

Gone

Close up photo of an almond, still intact and on the tree.

Season’s first almond,
as smooth as bearskin carpets—
bird bitten too soon.