that's rather fine, Max
L
On 25 June 2014 09:27, Max Richards <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Saplings
>
> In the park this winter morning
> tall saplings in pots waiting,
> two gardeners digging holes.
> The young one I congratulate -
> 'Good to see a machine isn't
> doing this work for you - yet.'
>
> He grins, leans on his shovel,
> or is it a spade? 'How many?'
> 'Five we're planting here, ten there.'
>
> I read the label - Tilia
> cordata - 'new to me', I say.
> Then the fine print - it's a Linden.
>
> Yellow-green flowers in spring -
> autumn deciduous. Linden
> I claim to know, at least know of.
>
> Didn't Grinling Gibbons carve
> flowers leaves and fruit from linden? -
> that never fade, wither or fall.
>
> How fast does it grow? how tall?
> 'Seven metres', I read out. 'Ah,
> I shan't live to see them that tall.'
>
> He smiles - 'you never know, never know.'
> Spring flowerings? - a few - maybe,
> you never know.
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