Sunflower

how golden and lovely is your face;
your frame is strong and straight.
I can feel the way I orient myself to you,
my heart upturned into your light.
from my bed of earth, I blush
to think that others must notice
the way you’ve turned my head.
your clear-eyed gaze leaves me tingling
down to the tips of my roots,
and with abandon, I tip back my head
to track your path across the sky.
now and again, I imagine us as lovers,
your proud neck bending earthward
to sow my lips with sweet kisses,
your fingers softly twining in my hair;
but I know better than to think it so.
you are bright and beloved by many
and shine just as warmly elsewhere
as on my little patch of earth.
I am but the ungainliest of flowers
and would scarcely dare to believe
I could be so loved by a star.

September 2018