sneaking in behind
swath ornamental grass
tall green stalks
invaded edge of backyard
I saw them growing
thought them a weed, unknown
needing pulling
but I put off entering
chiggerland
told myself
after a killing freeze
I’d deal with them
then yellow flowers bloomed
bees and butterflies supped
and I pondered—
what if I’d yanked them
when they first had
the audacity to invade
I wouldn’t have witnessed
this sunny show
I have been the weed
I have been the goldenrod
torn from what anchored me
tossed aside
like so much garbage
before I had the chance
to flower
and adding to the sadness
of it all
the killing was often wrought
by my own
foolish hand
©2026 Kate Wolfe
Drawing is my own using micro pens and watercolor. Second image is my own photo of goldenrod free-ranging into my ornamental grass. (Posted on a previous blog.)
Liked the poem and the beautifully enhanced watercolor!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much! 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful ink-watercolor… it has just the right emphasis on the blossoms, leaving the backgroung more to our imagination… I like that the photo’s main color is the goldenrod blossoms. And the poem addresses beautifully our tendencies to sell ourselves short, our shortsightedness in that regard… Well done 👏 …; -)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Liam. ☺️ I’ve always admired your pen and inks, and how you seem to know intuitively how to balance the drawing for maximum appeal. Coming from you, the praise means a lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Kate… I do luck out from time to time. But your ‘Goldenrod’ is absolutely wonderful; I look forward to seeing what you come up with next…; -)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have one other I did a few months ago, plus another half-finished one from the same time period. It may be spring before I draw or paint again…I just don’t know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s fine… when the time is right, you’ll know…; -)
LikeLiked by 1 person