and with pleasure gaze

In admiration at the beauty

of their fine displays,

I watch the television

to pick up gardening hints

On growing perfect pansies, poppies,

or sweet scented pinks.

I'm an avid reader

of numerous gardening books

Because you see I take my pride

in how my garden looks;

I sit for hours and contemplate

- I plot and plan and scheme,

I'm sure with time I will design

the ideal garden scene.


Sitting in my garden

in happy idleness, I see

Long trails of thorny brambles twining

through the apple tree,

Thistles growing in the borders

reflect the shining sun,

Bindweed climbs the raspberry canes

and through the hedges run;

Nettles growing in odd corners

and couch grass lush and green-

Buttercups and dandelion

add colour to the scene;

I don't need to spend a fortune

on buying packs of seeds

Because I've become an expert

at growing crops of weeds.


Doreen Sparkes
Ashburnham Close
Chichester


We would love more poems from you, please, on the theme of 'colour'.

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