morning walks
take me by
a thoughtful person's planting

twenty feet of marigolds
run between the sidewalk
and a board fence
that shuts the backyard out of sight

on sturdy stalks three feet tall
petals in single rays and
frilled layers
become hundreds of little suns
bright yellow
deep orange

leaning close to their
pungent astringent scent
not sweet not flowery
I rub leaves between my fingers
then inhale deeply

frost is coming soon
I don't think the planter will mind
if two blooms come home
to grace my table

they will be blackened soon enough
here beside the sidewalk
where the unknown planter
has shared beauty with the passers-by

planters who grace the public ways
with their choices of beauty
are to be blessed

they will never know whose heart
lightened just to see bright
marigolds along the way