Witness

How long would you wait
to witness the exact moment
a flower opened:

The first, slight split
in the flawless seam?

The slow separation
of soft, sensuous petals?

The graceful curving
into curls and arches?

The profound appearance
of pistil and stamens?

The powdery pollen
clinging to anthers
at the tips of slender filaments?

The prominent stigma,
moist and receptive,
atop the stout style?

Are you waiting,

and watching,

and grateful

for this gentle gift,

created daily
during deep summer?

Will your witness
of these miracles
grow into a prayer
of thanks

from the silence
of your heart?

How long will you wait
to hear
that still, small voice
within?

©  2014  Richard Havenga

Flower Identification and Photo Location:

1.  Hinge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium) - Gun Lake, Michigan

2. Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor) - Wabasis Lake Park, Michigan

3. Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorum) - Home Garden

4. Yellow Glacier Lily/Avalanche Lily (Erythronium grandiflorum) 
     - Medicine Bow Mountains, (Snowy Range) Wyoming 

5. Trout Lily/Yellow Fawn Lily (Erythronium americanum) - Home Woods

6. Common Orange Day Lily (Henerocallis fulva) - Home Woods

7. Michigan Lily (Lilium michiganense) - Home  Garden

8. Pink Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium acaule) - Townsend Park, Cannonsburg, Michigan

9. Virginia Meadow Beauty (Rhexia virginica) - Shallotte, North Carolina

10. Gunnison's Mariposa Lily (Calochortus gunnisonii) - Boulder County, Colorado

11. Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)- Ada Township, Kent County, Michigan

12. Rough-fruited Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) Canon Township, Kent County, Michigan

13. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) Grattan Township, Kent County, Michigan

14. Hollyhock (Althaea rosea) - Home Garden

15. American Lotus (Nelumbo lutea) Grand River, Spring Lake, Michigan

16. Fragrant White Water Lily (Nymphaea odorata) - Freedom Park, Naples, Florida