Rescuing Lilac

There I am

in my slippers

sweater covering my ears

rescuing my lilacs

to cut them to death - bring them

in.

The fragrance is

is beyond heady

some of the blossoms lost

but rescuing my lilacs

before the last frost

helped me remember

a good lot.

The crabbapple will suffer

lost one this last year

the peepers have stopped

calling

I fear

But rescuing my lilacs

I know, it's not right

to allow one's self to

consider the plight

Of one luscious blossom

and bring it inside

But rescuing the Lilac

Gives me such pride.

My mother did the same

twenty-nine years ago

while I sat on a stoop

in my bath robe and moped.

My wedding day

she did the same

she rescued the lilacs

I do to this day.