we planted columbines
in the high alpine dirt
of my mother’s garden
eight years ago
now there is a grouping
with blue outer petals
with a white center
there’s also a grouping
with yellow outer petals
and white insides
they grow well
sprouting in July
when the plains gardens
are long since bloomed
and this year
amidst the growth of
the established colors
there is a new one
that has emerged
a new hue of columbine
blue at the edges
yellow in the center
a species specific
to this backyard garden
a small miracle of adaptation
how wonderful
that the progress of nature
is always so beautiful
how sad
that ours is the opposite

Alexander Shalom Joseph is an award winning poet, writer and playwright from Gilpin County, and is the author of seven published books. You can find his work and more information about him at www.alexandershalomjoseph.com.