Dahlias for Christmas

Photo Credit: Skip Klein

Late August, Dahlias are Purple Pop Rocks,
exploding Zotz for the eyes.  

Pink Balls, Orange Orchid Flowering, White Micro Stellar,
Yellow Pom Pom, Pale Pink Water Lily, Yellow-Purple April Dawn. 

Come winter, tenders of Dahlias play Darwin.
Raise a cluster of tubers to the eyes, shake off
excess soil, rescue a rotting tuber
which is precious.
Place the chosen in their shoe boxes
Lined with a blue veined pulse
Buried in a womb.

It’s enough to remind me
things far away
come back.  

In 2024, wishing you the patience, strength, and faith of Dahlia farmers.