My neighbour across the road
A gardener fine
His garden back and front
Surpasses mine
For he has been a gardener
All his days
He knows his plants and shrubs
Their many ways
And here today in springtime’s
Warm sunshine
A bank of yellow daffodils
So fine
I thank him for this ever-changing view
Of flowers and colours
Sights I never knew
His lawn too is like
A bowling green
Cut so close the bowl
Would roll serene
And edges sharp cut down
To coal black soil
The wayward shot would find
Its earthly foil
Today I sat and saw
The daffodils
Swaying in the breeze
A springtime chill
Alas for Dougie looking
Across at me
The yellow heads of dandelion
I’m afraid is all he’ll see
Brian Fahy
18 April 2022
Erris Poetry 