Waking Flowers

By Sally Boyington

Sun paints the sky from beneath the horizon
in streaky hues stolen
from petals of flowers still sleeping,
wrapped up securely
against the wearisome night.
This light will soon strengthen
creep forward
slip across their shy and gentle faces
and startle into wakefulness the bright
unfolding bliss of morning.
Wrapped in a black blanket
I sit
feet propped up on a white painted railing
and watch the world burst into billions of hues.
And I wonder when I will wake at last
with the same splendid happiness
that comes so easily to these unfurling flowers.

First published at the age of seven with a Halloween poem, Sally Boyington is better known for her historical novels (the most recent being Rainbow Knife, 2022), which contain snippets of her original poetry. As a copy editor and publishing coach, she has helped several hundred authors see their words in print. Sally lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, with her husband, two dogs, and a cat.