Garden Party List

Wash the white chairs coated with summer's dust
and the table top perched on an old martin house
like a porkpie hat
spread on a table cloth carefully crocheted by ancient fingers
pick roses and heavy-petalled dahlias
arrange them in a cut glass vase
load trays with old rose-patterned china
take the starched linen napkins from the closet
polish the silver coffee spoons
pile up parfaits of fresh raspberries and cream
in tall Carnival Glass goblets
knead dark cherries into buttermilk scones
stow strong coffee in vacuum pots
place cream in a pitcher that doesn't match the plates,
which don't match the cups and saucers,
except that someone has painted roses on them all
in England
a thousand moons ago
fill a crystal compote with the black currant preserves
you made in July
set butter on ice in the old pressed glass butter saver
cut up fresh melons and adorn with strawberries you leave the green caps on
because that simple act makes the red look redder and the cantaloupe look more pink--
carry trays to the garden
being careful not to trip on the bumpy lawn
where earthworms work at night
feel the shadow of the crow soaring above
smell the fresh cut grass and flowers' sweet scents
see the ripe tomato that begs picking
listen to the blue jay's call
set the table
pour some wine
savor sweet cream when your fingertip slips into the dessert
bring in the women with their broad-brimmed hats
set them among the nodding climbers and let their sandaled toes touch
the pergola's Fairy rose foothills
surround them with cleomes in every shade
soak them with warm sun
temper with shadows and a cool breeze
delight in their laughter that ripples out across the lawn
like sun on a blue lake,
flowers among flowers.