Helen McNaughton lives in Oregon where she grew up and also raised her family. She has been writing poetry since she was a child. Her poems have appeared in a number of journals and anthologies. Being out in nature has always been an important part of her life and is included not only in her poetry but also in her photography.
Ikebana – Freestyle
Winter is past but
its imprint is still visible
in lowered gray skies,
in unraked dead leaves
caught in new green growth, Japanese quince
have begun to bloom,
long branches lacing
through the holly hedge, dappled
with bright coral blossoms
and tight, round buds.
Camellias and daffodils
have not yet begun
to open. The deer have
disappeared back into the hills,
no longer any need
for the unmown grass
and dandelion blades
in the side yard. Ducks
and mergansers gather
in the creek behind the house,
sounding like a singles’
party, noise and uneasy laughter
as each one looks
for someone to go home with;
while we fall asleep
each night to the soft hooting
lullaby of an owl
who early this month
moved into the neighborhood
along with spring.
Helen McNaughton
