A Poem by Martin Willitts, Jr.

Unexpected Irises

Based on Irises, by Van Gogh, 1889

 

 

The untended ground knows just what to do,

for here is the undisturbed

with something special to say.

The humble always keep to themselves.

They are always the ones worth listening to.

It is the simple breath that creates the wind.

What is the emphasis here?

 

Among this resting,

are marigolds, red earth patches,

green leaves cutting irises

into breathtaking memories

of things we should not change.

 

The humble never need to speak up to be heard

in order for me to know

they have important things to say.

I watch as they keep quiet to hear what is not said.

I wait to learn something to keep to myself.

Like the untended ground, I will know what to do.

 

 

 

Martin Willitts Jr retired as a Senior Librarian and is living in Syracuse, New York. He is currently a volunteer literacy tutor. He is a visual artist of Victorian and Chinese paper cutouts. He was nominated for 5 Pushcart and 3 Best Of The Net awards. He has three full length books "The Secret Language of the Universe" (March Street Press, 2006), and “The Hummingbird” (March Street Press, 2009), and “The Heart Knows, Simply, What It Needs: Poems based on Emily Dickinson, her life and poetry” (Aldrich Press, 2012). His forthcoming  poetry books include  “Waiting For The Day To Open Its Wings” (UNBOUND Content, 2013),  “Art Is the Impression of an Artist” (Edgar and Lenore's Publishing House, 2013), “City Of Tents” (Crisis Chronicles Press, 2013), “A Is For Aorta” (Seven Circles Press, e-book, 2013), and “Swimming In the Ladle of Stars” (Kattywompus Press, 2013).