Iris Garden Poem by L MILTON HANKINS

Aunt Bonnie's iris garden showcased, at least,
a hundred showy species
of orchid-like irises,
Her beds of "flags, " as she called them, a feast
for the eyes bloomed all summer,
producing rainbows of color--
yellow, purple, orange, bronzes
She did not know her irises took their real name
from a Greek goddess,
Iris, goddess of the rainbow,
Her glorious 'flags' fluttered wildly for all who came
oogling and aahing,
admiring shimmering
vibrant multi-colors
Born, as they were, from sturdy bulbous tubers
buried shallow
in late fall,
hibernating
through bitter cold,
Ushering forth from warming May to cool September
in full splendorous array
from Decoration to Labor Day.