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AprilDawn Dec 2014
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 a graying 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.

— The End —