Evening candles pool flickering warmth
over the deep bronze-black of phormium,
black lily grass and aeonium.
A late stand of acanthus, five elder
gentlemen, make short, upright blossom
with sparse flashes of white acknowledged
by the low-bowing agapanthus blooms
still vying with the candlelight in
mellow dusk. The ravaged hosta spurts
perfectly miniature grey-green leaves
now late sun has driven slug-life
deeper underground while geraniums trail
bright white stars through this heaven
of ease and contentment, of unhurried
peace.