For at least 6 years
David and I toiled over
the illustrious, majestic
"Bird of Paradise"
Fertilizing, nurturing, nursing
yet despite all this
we only saw dark green plumes
fronds fanning out
like a proud peacock
Then early this morning
at sunrise I heard David exclaim,
"Hurry bring the camera!"
there in all its exquisite glory
its wings in full sunrise explosions
of orange gold and purple

was our own very first "Bird of Paradise"