Sunrise from the porch

The bees, fat with mid-summer, breakfasted on mullein,
black stripes on the yellow tasting blossoms
riding green velvet spires in the morning breeze

Carrying the scent of deep ripe August, mountain air
trailing in its return from northern nights
A future memory of shadows lengthening at dusk.

But this day, born under skies of gentle blue,
magenta and coral lilies wake up with rose hydrangea
among astilbe's creamy blooms
as the silvery chorus of winged ones greet the warming rays of sun.