Many Ways Poem by Kay Bressner

For the past dozen years or so,
when day breaks, I open the front window
blinds to let in a peaceful green view

There stands the lemon bottlebrush tree,
with myriad narrow lance shaped leaves,
providing garden shade, gracefully;
as giant pathos leaves climb the trunk.

From Australia, originally; few of
the rentals here have one of these trees,
making our cottage look oh so pretty.

If you could gaze from my tiny porch to see
the crimson blossoms against blue sky with green,
I guarantee that you'd be inspired by the vivid scene.

The tree is loved by blue jays and woodpeckers,
sometimes a stray cat visits; one evening a pointy nosed
possum peered from between branches into our living room.

On the gray brown bark,
textured like many pathways,
small lizards camouflage.

Blossoming scarlet beauty in glory days,
and through tropical storms, some quite awful,
this Callistemon tree has survived
commendably; so has this family.