Seventeen

two fuchsia gryphons
red and blue by name
on their way to the garden
in the pouring rain

three aqua pea plants
growing in a row
sucking up the water drops
trying hard to grow

five seeds in a pod
salmon shaded sprouts
stretching upwards towards the sun
or moon or thereabouts

seven brown dirt clumps
under rabbit feet
crumble, tumble, detritus
petrichor and sweet

eleven days of
early, verdant, spring
ticking down a counting clock
taut and tight bowstrings

thirteen orchid aphids
herded by the ants
siphoning the sticky dew
ranchers in the plants

seventeen black stars
twinkling above
lighting up the alien sky
backward hues of love