I found this in my draft folder, meant to send it out last month. So, here it is a little late.
Food posts are coming, not to worry, I haven’t changed the format of this blog. Rather I thought you might enjoy a change. We’ve had a few days of warm weather, in the 80’s F, unusual for this late in September. But this heat does not feel like summer heat. Cool is there as an undertone, very subtle, almost at the edge of consciousness.
I wrote this several years ago after walking my dog through a long alleyway between the houses in our Oakland neighborhood. Plot B is an unofficial off-leash dog path, a bower of trees about 4 blocks long. Dogs love it because there are squirrels to chase, fallen trees to jump over, and usually another dog to greet at some point along the trail. Unless you live in the neighborhood, plot B is a secret. To find it you must walk a narrow path between houses. Originally called plot B, for the past few years it has been called Oak Park. I still call it plot B, and that is how my dog knows it.
Plot B
Summer
Late afternoon
Sunlight slanting through dusty air
Tall trees on either side
Oak, bay, redwood, plum and fig
Climbing roses
Their branches meet above the trail
A green tunnel
And secret path
Birds call
Announcing riches
Of ripe blackberries in sunlit patches
Fallen plums
Wealth of weeds
Forgotten place
I miss your hand in mine
Together quiet observers
In this hidden wild place
Watching summer end
And fall begin
When I wrote it I was thinking about walking our old dog with my child, now grown. It was one of our favorite places to go in the late afternoon.
Please be kind, a poet I am not.
Happy change of seasons, no matter what your hemisphere.

Through the gate at the back of the property

My current equivalent to Plot B
Lovely.
Thank you Abby! It was a bit of nostalgia for when Chris was little.
Plot B needs a new name. Maybe Tranquility Trail. It looks so peaceful there.
It’s our personal plot B walk through the woods, I like that Tranquility Trail.
Ready to cohost tomorrow?
Absolutely! 🤙
Absolutely loved your poem in addition to your recipes. Yes, you are a poet!msss
Thank you Carol! How exciting to know you are reading. How you and Tom are well. We would love for you to come visit.
Your equivalent Plot B looks lovely and I disagree, I think your a poet.
Thank you Ron for appreciating my small effort.
I think you are a poet, and it’s so nice that you had a Secret Garden for the pups to roam!
Glad to see you back after all your travels!
It is so good to be home! Thank you.
I would say you are a good poet as it made me want to join you for a walk along that path.
Thank you Karen, I would love the company.