Linda Pastan’s Garden & More Poem

Aprilmagnolia

By Linda Pastan

 A whole new freshman class

of leaves has arrived

on the dark twisted branches

we call our woods, turning

green now – color of

anticipation. In my 76th year,

I know what time and weather

will do to every leaf.

But the camellia swells

to ivory at the window,

and the bleeding heart bleeds

only beauty.