Sonnet

Queen of the Garden

Lovely sunflower, bright and fresh in hue,
In crowded beds thou reign'st a gentle queen;
Thy golden crown commands the gazer’s view,
And lends the garden grace in tranquil scene.
Beside thee stands an arch with lights entwined,
Its tender wires like stars in evening’s keep;
Behind, a shrine where beauty’s soul is signed,
And silent blessings through the lattice creep.
A towering tree usurps the distant sky,
Its shadow drapes the air in dusky shroud;
Yet through the leaves the sun’s warm lances fly,
And pierce the gloom with radiance unbowed.
   O fair sunflower, thy yellow petals stay,
   To gild our hearts and crown the shining day.


2026.04.17