we'd tend the violets
lined like bassinets
along the north:
double lavenders, crystal
stars, angel blues, pink
persuasion. So careful.
We never touched their velvet
not even the undersides.
We just turned them each day,
their faces straining
toward the sun
Did you have an aunt (or mother or grandmother) who had African violets lined up to catch the morning sun? I remember visiting Aunt Bess's little house and seeing all the purple beauties on shelves by the window. Just one of her many talents, and seeing African violets now always reminds me of her.
~excerpt from poem My Aunt Raises Violets from Africa by Janice Moore Fuller, entire poem featured on July 20th at The Writer's Almanac
~photo from Webshots - African violet at Kitchener Farmers' Market, Canada by emubee
