Dianne Hicks Morrow: Poet Laureate 2013-2016

Dianne Hicks Morrow was appointed Poet Laureate in January 2013, serving until January 2016.

The Devil Sends

The truck dumps topsoil on the grass

at the end of our long clay lane,

the place the west wind burns by August.

Barefoot I jump in the loamy earth,

decide to make a rock garden.

My husband wheelbarrows huge

foundation stones to circle the base.

Our sons bring bricks from the torn-down

chimney. One builds steps to the top for fun

facing north, away from the house.

l ask him to make more on the south side

to see from the kitchen window.

Don’t know until too late

l’ve turned play into work.

Granddad gives a wrought iron Sundial for the top

“Gonna be some job to keep the weeds out of this.”

For the first years we call it the Shinto

shrine. Nasturtiums border brick stairs.

Dainty carpathian harebells thrive

a while. Hardy rock garden perennials gray

then die. Even sturdy sedum. The herb

quadrant goes wild. Dill disappears.

God steps in, gives wild strawberries.

Next, buttercups, Queen Anne’s

lace, asters, and goldenrod.

Then the Devil sends the sod

that finally takes over.

Our sons have left home.

Only the forget-me-nots bloom now.