Yellow Remaining

Before the first snowfall
long after frost covering
layering the lawn, the gardens
Yellow remaining
newborn black-eyed Susan
growing in the front bed
flowers defying the date,
the ides of November past,
yellow remaining, amid
the browns, the grays of fall
hope remaining still
of the summer just gone,
the spring to come
after winter’s icy grasp

November 16, 2008