Blueflags + 

I stopped the car + 

to let the children down + 

where the streets end + 

in the sun + 

at the marsh edge + 

and the reeds begin + 

and there are small houses + 

facing the reeds + 

and the blue mist + 

in the distance + 

with grapevine trellises + 

with grape clusters + 

small as strawberries + 

on the vines + 

and ditches + 

running springwater + 

that continue the gutters + 

with willows over them. + 

The reeds begin + 

like water at a shore + 

their pointed petals waving + 

dark green and light. + 

But blueflags are blossoming + 

in the reeds + 

which the children pluck + 

chattering in the reeds + 

high over their heads + 

which they part + 

with bare arms to appear + 

with fists of flowers + 

till in the air + 

there comes the smell + 

of calamus + 

from wet, gummy stalks. + 