Prayer Flags

Flags in the garden, each with a prayer
Tied to a string with love and care.

Flags in the garden hanging in the trees
Gently sway in the spring time breeze.

"I have flags too!" said a voice from below
"Come over and see, but on tip-toe."

I quietly walked to a shady place
Where a big plant grew, then I saw her face.
The winged one smiled and spoke to me
As she hung her flags from her little tree.

"This plant is called a Bleeding Heart
In the early spring they are works of art.
The pink and red hearts all hang all in a row
And tinkle and laugh when the breezes blow.

"Each little heart is like a prayer
Filled with kindness, love and care.

And when the wind blows, they gently sway
And then the prayers can fly away!

"Tenderly they fly like wings on a dove 
To people and places that needs some love."

I smiled at her and she smiled at me
And the love between our hearts we both could see.

I tip toed back to my special tree
Where my flags all hung in front of me.
A little wind blew and I watched them sway
And one by one, the prayers all flew away!

To all kinds of people, big and small
Where love is needed, the flags hear their call.

Now a secret we all can share
In the garden are all kinds of prayer.

written and illustrated by Christine Summerfield © April 23, 2020

Tiny Purple Grapes
On my morning walk one day I saw a funny thing
Tiny clumps of purple grapes blooming in the spring!

Usually they grow on vines and get picked in the fall
But these tiny little grapes were standing straight and tall.

And then I heard a gentle laugh coming from below
He wore a funny purple hat and said "my name is Joe!"

"You see, these are grape hyacinths growing in a clump
Their flowers look like little grapes, they're fat, and round and plump!
But these little purple grapes, these you cannot eat
The honey bees they love them so, for them, they are a treat!"

And then that fairy smiled at me and with his purple hat
He bowed just like a gentleman, can you imagine that!

And when he put his cap back on, he gave a little wink
Then he was gone in a flash, before I could even blink!

And now I smile to myself, because now I know
​How in the fall and in the spring, purple grapes can grow!

Brown and grey
Brown and grey
What does the winter garden do all day?

White and brown
White and brown
Nothing much to hear, it doesn't make a sound.

Ho and hum
Ho and hum
Grey and brown makes me feel all glum.

Then a voice said "ho!"
"Look below!
Take a little moment now and say 'hello!'"

Beside my boot
In his green suit
He said "I am the one who tends the root!"

"You might say
It's brown and grey
But just you wait til one spring day!"

"Soon the roots
Will send up shoots
And you'll see flowers in the month of May!"

Then the wee gnome
Hid behind a stone
And burrowed down below to his earthen home.

Though brown and grey
On this winter's day
The garden really DID have a lot to say!

 written by Christine Summerfield / March 7, 2019