DAY’S EYES

Daisies sprinkle the grass, like families,
Spreading their little welcome to the sun;
Yellow and white, no fuss, spread colonies,
Cheerful and bright, till sunshine’s gone.

Each flower a commune of circled florets,
Fringes of white round yellow eyes,
Bristling ranks stand thick as a forest,
Tiny, five-pointed, pollen as their prize.

Each circle in turn entices boldly,
Like a ring of candles, target for the bees.
Each tiny pistil protrudes proudly,
Greedy for gold, by insects or breeze.

The scattered coronets close at the day’s end,
Dutiful retreat into folded buds.
Lying on the leaves, like a spilt necklace,
Dewdrops glitter round the dark green studs.

The cheery faces on their stubby stalks
Forgive the mower, with its gnashing teeth.
Fresh ranks spring up to deck the walks,
Last week’s mowings, scattered underneath.

Day in, day out, the day’s-eyes follow the sun;
Resurgent fan-club, contracted for a nine-month run.