A Hound’s Garden
The Citrus Saga
Part One: Cursed
The blossoms were sweetly fragrant
belying their sour harvest
the tree named Meyer bore a dulcet legacy
doomed
to wither in a corner
under the sly vigilance of a young hound.
Part Two: Salvation
It arrived in a plain brown box
glossy leaves without flowers
a solitary green satsuma
flailing in the breeze
transformed under the sleepy gaze
of a furry connoisseur
whose daily test sniff promised
a favorite delicacy’s imminent
arrival.
Part Three: Thankful Harvest
Peeled glory
boasted
succulent slices
of tangerine heaven
just barely enough for one mouth
to savor.
Part Four: Grim Reaper
Growing season came again
fragrant blossoms erupted
sweet branches
studded with unripe fruit
stood proudly in the Texas sunlight
when like a thief in the night
every unborn tangerine
was gone one early morn
sad faces saw the end
of a Satsuma riddled era.
Part 5: Fare Thee Well
Years have passed
Since the hound’s youthful
indiscretions
her sight long gone
nose not as sharp
the tangerine tree
belongs
to someone else
those fruitful bounties
live only in the dreams
of an old dog.
Dec 11, 2014
Dec 11, 2014 at 6:28 PM UTC
A Hound’s Garden
The Citrus Saga
Part One: Cursed
The blossoms were sweetly fragrant
belying their sour harvest
the tree named Meyer bore a dulcet legacy
doomed
to wither in a corner
under the sly vigilance of a young hound.
Part Two: Salvation
It arrived in a plain brown box
glossy leaves without flowers
a solitary green satsuma
flailing in the breeze
transformed under the sleepy gaze
of a furry connoisseur
whose daily test sniff promised
a favorite delicacy’s imminent
arrival.
Part Three: Thankful Harvest
Peeled glory
boasted
succulent slices
of tangerine heaven
just barely enough for one mouth
to savor.
Part Four: Grim Reaper
Growing season came again
fragrant blossoms erupted
sweet branches
studded with unripe fruit
stood proudly in the Texas sunlight
when like a thief in the night
every unborn tangerine
was gone one early morn
sad faces saw the end
of a Satsuma riddled era.
Part 5: Fare Thee Well
Years have passed
Since the hound’s youthful
indiscretions
her sight long gone
nose not as sharp
the tangerine tree
belongs
to someone else
those fruitful bounties
live only in the dreams
of an old dog.
In honor of our dear elder pup Sophie (RIP May 28, 2001-December 4,2014) , who hated lemons with a passion and loved tangerines . Our citrus trees in our Texas garden were her most loved fruit and her most hated fruit . The lemon tree mysteriously died,while the tangerine tree still blossomed .I worked on this piece for years on and off , figures I would finish it after she passed.Miss you sweet girl.
