Goldenrod

What would happen

if there were a terrific shortage of goldenrod

in the world

and I put my foot outside this house

to walk in my garden and show city visitors

my two lovely rosebushes

and three remarkable goldenrod plants

that were doing well this year

I would say: Look!

how on each of several sprigs

there are two three dozen tiny stems

and on each stem three four tiny golden

flowers   petals stamen pistil and the pollen

which bees love

                    but insufficiently

otherwise

               can you imagine the fields

on rainy days in August   brass

streaking the lodged hay heads

dull brass in the rain

and under the hot sun

the golden flowers

     floating   gold dust in August fields

for miles and miles