This “poem of the week” written on August 23rd is a collection of loosely linked haiku that took off from my observation of dahlias and green beans being neighbors in our garden, but the poem turned out to be political. (The text is below.) I appreciated the Democratic National Convention redefining the Democratic Party as a much wider tent not only by featuring many Republican speakers who support the Harris-Walz ticket, but also by many speakers, including Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, expressing gratitude for growing up in diverse neighborhoods where people cared about and helped one another no matter how different they were.

I feel a special love for my neighbors who are loving and generous-hearted across political or any other kind of line that could divide. That’s the party that can save America and save this earth–the unconditional, neighborly love party. Thank you for being a part of it! Please use your voice!

Here’s the text of the poem:

big deep red dahlias
their garden corner sings joy
to neighbor green beans

our neighbors work hard
we hear them as we work too
pounding mowing songs

rooster and hen calls
neighbor children new baby
their songs make us glad

town picnic stranger
she believes we are all one
acts it and it’s true

white or purple gold
fall asters, orange monarchs
share sweet just right air

wind brings neighbor air
here we send sweet scents and peace
we work hard to make

come look a long time
into deep red cupped petals
then turn sing share light

8/23/24