For St Anne Patron Saint of Mothers

native stone bare against the hill
Los Angeles cool, damp
rain soaks
runs down the stairs, the hill

bright nasturtiums blow
between stones run down slopes
delicate, temporary as grass
myrtle sculpture in the kitchen window

sky bare tender blue as Jerusalem June
desert Eden
orange flowers rest gentle
between stones

children play handball against the pink wall
school starts in searing heat
backpacks tear tender shoulde
the people stand holding hoses in the dry evening
they hold those green hoses fall after fall
the children go, come back, buy homes falling down the slopes