Berkeley Vagaries

Exit the traffic circle on Marin...

First, meet freesias. Their sweetness kisses the face

As they swipe my blue-jean’d legs low rise–

Midday mushrooms wilt under multi-colored camellias.

Keep one foot in front of the next bougainvillea, trace

Past the fountain walk of bears with proud memories.

Reconstruction, steps, and balustrade, all remain golden.

Sun strides on purpled wisterias that twist above wintered 

Succulents in a call to arms sent to briefly hold my canvas tote.

Climb Acacia steps...

Filled with daily supplies, take a breath with butterflies in view

Atop Indian rock, let eyes soak in the cloud atlas painting

Of The City. The dreaming fog and roses under bluest magnolias! 

Upside-down bells toll before nightmarish sculptures of Brugmansia drop  

Berkeley blooms of vagaries that cheer you back to Spruce. The little libraries–

Covered books of poetry splash across Edwardians and bungalows

With hints of Mediterranean. Flyby Hummingbirds to arts and crafts

Near the top of the pedestrian path sits a clump of midcentury moderns

Mixed with a few contemporaries. Deer trip headed to Wildcat Creek 

Which wraps redwoods, feeds jewel lake, and originates on Vollmer peak.  

Back La Loma stairs or poplar pathway...

In blossoming spring still covered in green thoughts meander,

Tam to Grizzly to Diablo, with sage in the larkspur, wildflowers walk– 

To wander the treelined trails of Tilden.