The alpine shepherd calls lowly —
an ursine bellow to his milky-colored charges
that single-mindedly graze, burrowing
their heads to smell new grass.
The gradual lay of the land invites
only a leisurely inclination to wander
and the air settles cool and sweet:
a mantle and disposition it has nowhere else.
So sluggishly heeding his call,
the sheep raise no more than fond tolerance
from their likewise charmed guardian.
RED GLADIOLA 