I worked very hard before Easter
Removing all dead flowers and plants.
I thought it’d be lovely when family came
To be outside. Oaks said, “Fat chance.”
 
And so, prior to the green pollen,
I planned Easter dinner outside.
The weather was gorgeous and on the whole,
I’d replaced most of plants that had died.
 
My “out back” is deck around swimming pool
And hot tub turned fire pit, because
The “bubbler” for hot tub took water out,
An action not met with applause.
 
And then, when a bonza idea appeared:
A firepit with cushions around,
I thought friends would gather with wine and cheer
But here is the problem we found:
 
There’s one step up to the brick border
And a 2 foot step down to the base
And we’re not as young as we once were
And there’s not a rail—just in case.
 
And so, it’s reserved for the younger set
Whose still-intact knees never creak
And comfortable chairs at a normal height
With soft cushions are what we seek.
 
Well, anyway, back to my oak trees
Where millions of squigglies reside
They “partner” with pollen inside of them
And cover us if we don’t hide.
 
So, everything—and I DO mean, everything,
Will have a green film and “brown fuzz”
And I will be having a sneezing fit
And red, runny eyes becuz
 
Springtime in Texas is showing us
Because of its brief little stay,
It’s doing its best to send everything
In great abundance, our way.
 
My pool, usually pristine with fountains—
Young cherubs, just spouting away
Will turn a moss green from the pollen
That’s how it would look, Easter day!
 
But as luck would have it, thank goodness,
I’m ecstatically happy to say
That our Easter lunch came before the oaks
Began their green pollen mayday.
 
We sat outside – weather was glorious
Flowers were blooming away,
Our Easter mealtime was delightful—
The squigglies began the next day!
 
A footnote to this little story;
They’re coming down, now, in full force
And I’m hosting our HOA meeting
Outside, ’cause of Covid, of course.